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BLACKBEARD’S 

ISLAND 


BY RUPERT SJRGENT HOLLAND 


THE BOY SCOUTS OF SNOW- 
SHOE LODGE 

Illustrated in color and black and 
white by Will Thomson. $1.25 net. 

‘‘A Story which should delight most boys. 
Instructive as well as entertaining, since 
it gives much information about the wild 
creatures of the Adirondacks.” 

— New York Post, 

THE BOY SCOUTS OF BIRCH- 
BARK ISLAND 

Illustrated in color and black and 
white by Herbert Pullinger. $1.25 net. 

“Full of the flavor of the woods and 
water, and the troop has just the sort of 
adventurous life that all Boy Scouts look 
for.” — Pittsburgh Dispatch, 

THE MAN IN THE TOWER 

Illustrated in color and black and 
white by Frank H. Desch. $1.25 net. 

“Enough excitement, mystery and tragedy 
in the book for twenty romances. No 
pause in the series of thrills.” 

— Chicago Herald, 


J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS PHILADELPHIA 




\ 


i 





THEY PROVE THAT SOMEBODY DID ACTUALLY HIDE MONEY ON THAT ISLAND 

WAY BACK BEFORE THE REVOLUTION 


Page 198 



BLACKBEARD’S 

ISLAND 

THE ADVENTURES OF 
THREE BOY SCOUTS 
IN THE SEA ISLANDS 

BY 

RUPERT SARGENT HOLLAND 

AUTHOR OF “THE BOY SCOUTS OF BIRCH-BARK ISLAND,” 
“THE BOY SCOUTS OF SNOW-SHOE LODGE,” ETC. 


WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY 

WILL THOMSON 



PHILADELPHIA & LONDON 
J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 
1916 


IQa88QCa»fiX»000ffiKS88C»^^ 



COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 


PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER, I916 
\ 



NOV - 4 ' 1916 


PRINTED BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 
AT THE WASHINGTON SQUARE PRESS 
PHILADELPHIA, U- S. A. 


©CI.A4462ii)0 

r 



’'.K ' 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. The Old Box 9 

II. On the Trail of Pirate Teach 20 

III. To THE Sea Islands 36 

IV. The Tour of Discovery 48 

V. The Ship and the Spy 62 

VI. A Wild Goose Chase 77 

VII. Other Hunters 91 

VIII. Tom Works Out a New Idea loi 

IX. The Bed of the Stream no 

X. The Great Storm 123 

XI. Hidden Treasure 136 

XH. Calkins’ Cove 151 

XHI. A Messenger to the Enemy 165 

XIV. Hare and Hounds 178 

XV. Blackbeard's Chest 191 

XVI. Pirate Gold 203 

XVH. The Merchant’s Wagon 220 

XVIII. The Automobile 239 

XIX. Guardians OF The Treasure 258 

XX. Adventures of a Motor-boat 276 

XXL The Rightful Owner 294 

XXH. Blackbeard’s Gift 309 


ILLUSTRATIONS 




That Proves that Somebody Did Actually Hide Money on 
that Island Way Back Before the Revolution. 

Frontispiece 

Doan and Parry, Who Looked as Though He Might Have 
Been a Pirate Himself, Came Along the Sand 


87 


196 

259*^ 


The Duck-Boat was Speeding Away 

“They’ve Gone, Have They?’’ Tom Called Down 
“Put it There!’’ Exclaimed the Big Man 


313 



\ 


BLACKBEARD’S 

ISLAND 

I 

THE OLD BOX 

Tom and Rodney Mason, who lived in New York 
City, had gone south to visit their cousin, Stephen 
Sims, who lived in Charleston, South Carolina. 
They reached the old southern city by the sea early 
in September. All three boys belonged to troops of 
Boy Scouts, and the two boys from the north soon 
found that Stephen and his troop were not very 
different from themselves, except that the South- 
erners spoke with a slow, soft drawl that somehow 
resembled the way the darkies talked, and yet was 
not really like it. 

The house in which Stephen lived was an old 
one with a small yard in front, and a great deep 
garden at the back. Splendid magnolia trees reached 
up above the second floor, and shaded a porch on 
which Stephen sometimes slept. The garden was 
filled with flowers of all kinds, but asters and dahlias 
were more abundant than any others. The two boys 
from New York quickly grew very fond of the 
beautiful southern city. They liked to tramp through 
the country where the pinkish-gray moss hung in 


10 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


deep festoons from the live-oaks, they liked to row 
or sail on the harbor, to visit Fort Moultrie, and 
to listen to the stories the old darkies told about 
B’rer Rabbit and his friends. 

The three were coming home from a tramp one 
afternoon when Rodney stopped and pointed to a 
little cottage just on the edge of the town. It was 
painted white, and vines had grown over it so that 
it was hard to see the windows. On the small porch 
in front an elderly woman sat in a rocking-chair, 
knitting. 

What a dandy little house ! ” said Rodney. It 
doesn’t look very much bigger than some of those 
toy-houses you see in store- windows.” 

‘^And the little lady just fits the porch,” added 
Tom. She might be a doll herself.” 

Stephen grinned. ‘‘ You mustn’t make fun of 
her,” he said. That’s Mrs. Pinckney. She’s lived 
there ever since I can remember, and everybody’s 
very fond of her. There isn’t anything about 
Charleston that she doesn’t know.” 

The path of the boys took them near the cottage, 
and, as they went by, the old lady beckoned to 
Stephen. 

‘‘ Come in with me a minute,” he said to the 
other two, and went up the path to the porch. 

‘‘ I wanted to give you a message for your 
mother,” said Mrs. Pinckney. Will you tell her 
I had a letter from my cousin John in London, and 


THE OLD BOX 


11 


that he says he is going to marry an English lady? 
Perhaps your mother will come over to tea some day 
and let me read her the letter/’ 

ril tell her, Mrs. Pinckney,” said Stephen. 

These are my New York cousins,” and he intro- 
duced Tom, who was a slender, sandy-haired boy of 
sixteen, and Rodney, a year younger, darker, and 
stockier in build. “ Pve just been telling them that 
you know everything about the history of Charleston, 
Mrs. Pinckney,” he added. 

The lady’s gray eyes twinkled. That’s a good 
deal for any one person to know,” she said, but I 
sometimes think I could tell enough stories about this 
old city to make quite a number of books.” 

Did you know that old pirate, named Black- 
beard? ” asked Stephen. I heard father speak of 
him the other day.” 

Mrs. Pinckney laughed. ‘‘ Why goodness 
gracious! The pirate Blackbeard lived ’way back 
before the Revolution I ” she exclaimed. That was 
in my great-great-great-grandmother’s day, and I’m 
sure she didn’t see very much of him I ” 

Tell us about him,” begged Tom, who had 
always had a strong regard for pirates. 

“ There isn’t much to tell,” said Mrs. Pinckney. 
“ 'He took some money from my great-great-great- 
grandfather, and all the family have had a grudge 
against him ever since. The pirate’s real name was 
Captain Edward Teach, but he was always called 


12 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Blackbeard. He used to sail up and down the coast, 
and prey upon the ships that sailed from the southern 
cities to England. In some way he would find out 
when people in Charleston were taking gold across 
the sea, and then he would hold up their ship and 
make them hand over the guineas to him. My 
great-great-great-grandfather, Samuel Pinckney, 
sailed with a box of money in 1718, five hundred 
guineas I have been told he had, and Blackbeard 
caught the ship, and took away all their money from 
the passengers. Five hundred guineas were quite a 
fortune in those days.’’ She looked at some breaks 
in the little picket fence that marked the edge of her 
lawn, at her tiny garden, and then at her vine-cov- 
ered porch. There are many things I might do 
to this house of mine if only I had those five hundred 
guineas now.” 

‘‘What became of the pirate?” asked Rodney. 

“ Oh, he was caught in time ; but great-great- 
great-grandfather never got the money back. There 
used to be a story that Blackbeard hid his treasure 
somewhere along the coast; but he might as well 
have thrown it overboard so far as anyone has 
ever been able to find it.” 

“ Think of that ! ” exclaimed Tom, his eyes look- 
ing at the old lady as if she were a figure in a fairy 
tale. “ Think of there having been a real pirate 
near here! We don’t have anything nearly as excit- 
ing as that up in New York.” 


THE OLD BOX 


13 


Again Mrs. Pinckney’s eyes gleamed with 
amusement. “ Oh, we have many exciting stories 
of Charleston,” she said, but you must not get me 
started talking about them, or you will never get 
home to supper. If you will bring your friends 
over early some afternoon. I’ll spin some fine yarns 
for them, Stephen.” The boys thanked her for the 
invitation, and went back to the road. 

Tom began to question Stephen about the pirate, 
but Stephen had to admit that he knew nothing 
more about him than Mrs. Pinckney had already 
told them. Mr. Sims was away from home at the 
time, and Mrs. Sims knew nothing about Blackbeard, 
so that Tom’s curiosity had to remain unsatisfied. 

Stephen’s troop of scouts had made the two boys 
from the North welcome, and had taken them on 
some of their hikes into the country. Of course the 
Charleston boys knew their own city well, but the 
two New Yorkers found something every day that 
was new and interesting. Stephen was good-natured, 
and went about the streets of the old town with his 
two cousins on many an exploration. He found also 
that the two strangers often pointed out things to 
him that he had never noticed before, although he 
had lived there all his life. 

One day the three boys were prowling around 
the old business part of the city when Tom spied an 
old curiosity shop that was wedged in between two 
much larger stores. In the window were sheets of 


14 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


foreign postage stamps, trays of old coins and 
medals, several rusty fire-arms and swords, some 
battered andirons, and a jumble of other things. 

Let’s have a look inside,” Tom suggested, and 
pushed open the front door, which rang a little bell. 

A man in a black skull-cap came out from a back 
room. His shoulders were bent, and he was very 
near-sighted, so that he looked like a big bird con- 
tinually peering about for something. 

What can I show you ? ” he asked. 

Oh, we just wanted to look around,” said 
Stephen. He added jokingly, These two fellows 
belong to a Silver Fox Scout-patrol. I don’t suppose 
you’ve got anything with a fox stamped on it.” 

Fox,” said the shopkeeper, no, I don’t think I 
have. I have eagles and lions and alligators, but I 
don’t think there’s a fox’s head in the place.” 

Tom meanwhile was looking at the curiosities 
that hung on the wall and filled a set of shelves at 
one side of the shop. The things were all dusty and 
dingy, and looked as if they might have been there 
for a great many years. Stephen examined sheets of 
postage stamps, which he was collecting, and Rodney 
fingered an old duelling-pistol that had an elaborate 
design chased on its silver mounting. 

As Tom went slowly around the room, he came 
upon an old chest in one corner. '' That looks like 
our wood-box at home,” he said. 

The shopkeeper gave a snort. '' You never saw 


THE OLD BOX 


15 


any wood-box like that,’’ he said. That’s made of 
mahogany, and was built to hold the finest linens. 
Open the lid and see the smooth satiny finish.” 

Tom lifted the lid, and saw that the chest was as 
beautiful as the man had described it. Inside was a 
smaller chest with a top of hammered brass, showing 
a coat-of-arms. 

That looks mighty fine,” he said. I wish I 
could take a box like that back to the Troop. We 
want something to keep our books and papers in, but 
that one is too big, I’m afraid.” 

He lifted the lid of this second chest, and was 
surprised to see a third and much smaller one inside. 
“ Why, it’s a regular nest of boxes ! ” he exclaimed, 
and lifted the smallest one out. This was made of 
leather, with heavy iron bands and hinges. There 
was a lock on the front side, but no key. 

Now there’s a real old box,” said the shop- 
keeper, peering closely at it. ‘‘ It has no key, but 
you could have one fitted to it. I shouldn’t wonder 
if that there box was a couple of hundred years old.” 

The box was about a foot long by eight inches 
across, and five or six inches deep, and an iron 
handle stretched from two of the bands on the top. 
Tom opened the lid, and saw that the inside was 
made of neatly joined pieces of cedar. The cedar, 
the leather, and the iron were all mouldy and mil- 
dewed. 

“ How much is it? ” Tom asked. 


16 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


The shopkeeper took the box and rubbed his 
thumb along the leather cover. It’s good and 
strong/’ he said. “ They made things to last in 
those days. That ought to be worth five dollars.” 

Rodney, hearing the talk, came over and looked 
at Tom’s find. “Five dollars for that old thing! 
Why, it hasn’t any key ! What would you do with 
it, Tom? ” 

“ I think the Troop might like it for their 
papers,” Tom answered. “ It’s ever so much better 
than a brand new box would be.” 

“ I wouldn’t want to pay more than two dollars 
for it,” declared the practical Rodney. 

The shopkeeper saw that the elder boy really 
wanted the box. “ Well,” he said, “ it’s worth five 
dollars at least; but I’ll let you have it for four.” 

“ Make it three,” chimed in Stephen, who was 
looking over Tom’s shoulder. 

“ I’ll give you three-fifty,” said Tom. 

The shopkeeper sighed. “ I oughtn’t to let it 
go for that,” he protested ; “ it’s a real antique, and 
I know there’s many a collector who would be glad 
to lay his hands on it.” 

“ Three-fifty,” repeated Tom, feeling that the 
other was yielding. 

“All right,” said the man, and pulled some paper 
out from behind the counter to wrap up the purchase. 

Tom paid over the money, and took his prize. 

“We’d better get out right away,” laughed 


THE OLD BOX 


17 


Rodney, ‘‘ or Tom will be buying some more useless 
truck. Think what you and I could do with that 
money, Stephen/’ he added, prodding his cousin in 
the ribs. 

Tom, however, was not to be laughed out of his 
satisfaction. Pleased with his purchase, he carried 
it to his uncle’s house and put it on the table in his 
room. 

That evening, as Mrs. Sims and the three boys 
sat on the broad porch at the rear of the house, it 
occurred to Tom to show his purchase to his aunt. 
He brought the box out, unwrapped it, and placed 
it in her lap. 

I’m going to give that to our Troop,” he said. 
“ It’s a real strong-box, and you don’t find things as 
well made as that every day.” 

1 reckon you’re a real antiquarian, Tom,” said 
his aunt, smiling at the serious look on his face. 

You like a thing a heap better because it is old, 
don’t you? Well, this certainly looks as if it might 
have been through the wars.” To please the boy, 
she examined his purchase and admired it, before 
she gave it back to him. 

Rodney and Stephen were playing with a Scotch 
terrier at the edge of the porch, and Tom stretched 
out in a wicker chair, his box in his hands. He 
rubbed the old leather cover, he raised the lid, he 
thumped the cedar lining, and then he took out his 
pocket-knife, and began to probe at the bottom. 

2 


18 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Mrs. Sims and the boys chatted and watched the 
dog. Tom worked away with his knife. Presently 
he gave an exclamation and sat upright; his knife 
had caught in the edge of the cedar lining at the 
bottom of the box and pried it out. Underneath was 
a tiny compartment with a folded piece of parch- 
ment lying in it. 

Very much excited, Tom picked up the parch- 
ment and unfolded it. It seemed to be a drawing of 
an oblong piece of land. There were various 
mysterious crosses, dots and arrows on it. Beside 
some of the crosses there was writing; the lines 
made by the arrows all met at a point marked by a 
red circle. The light was too dim to read much of 
the writing, but in the lower right-hand corner there 
stood out in large letters the words, Map of 
Teach’s Island.’' 

“ Map of Teach’s Island ! ” cried Tom. Teach’s 
Island ! Why that was the name of Mrs. Pinckney’s 
pirate!” 

Stephen and Rodney bent over the parchment, 
staring at it in amazement. Mrs. Sims got up from 
her chair and leaned over Tom’s shoulder. ‘‘ Teach’s 
Island,” she said, I don’t think I ever heard of 
that.” 

Wasn’t Teach the real name of the man they 
used to call Blackbeard?” asked Tom. 

“ I don’t know,” said his aunt. 

I think it was,” said Tom, in a tone of voice 


THE OLD BOX 


19 


that showed how much he was impressed by his 
discovery. I think this must be one of the islands 
the pirate used for a harbor in the old days, and he 
had some reason for making all these marks on it.” 

By George ! ” exclaimed Stephen. Maybe 
you are right, Tom — and if you are, that box must 
have belonged to Blackbeard himself ! ” 

Rodney, usually the skeptical one, was staring at 
his brother’s treasure with wide-open eyes. Do 
you suppose,” he said, there is such an island some- 
where near Charleston? And if there is, do you 
suppose we could find it? ” 

^‘And if we found it,” added Tom, “ what do you 
suppose we would find at this place marked with the 
red circle ? ” 

“ Oh, shucks ! ” exclaimed Stephen. '' Things 
like that don’t happen nowadays.” 

Well,” declared Tom, that man in the shop 
didn’t know the box had a false bottom, and yet it 
had, and I found it, so there’s no telling what we 
might find if we hunted for that island. I want to 
have a try at it anyway.” 

Let’s take it in to the lamp and get a magnify- 
ing-glass,” suggested Mrs. Sims. 

Tom took the box and the parchment into the 
sitting-room, and spread the map out on the table. 
Then the boys began to study it through Mr. Sims’ 
lens. The more they worked over the mysterious 
marks and signs, the more excited they grew. 


ON THE TRAIL OF PIRATE TEACH 

The sun had only been up a very little time the 
next morning when Rodney, rising on one elbow, 
looked over at his brother, who was sleeping in a 
bed near his own. As if Rodney’s glance had hyp- 
notized him, Tom opened his eyes. I bet I know 
what you were dreaming about,” whispered Rodney. 

Tom grinned. I wasn’t dreaming of anything, 
Sherlock Holmes,” he retorted. 

Well, I was, anyhow,” said Rodney, sitting up 
and running his fingers through his shock of dark 
hair as if to waken himself more thoroughly. I 
was dreaming of that old scout, Blackbeard, and the 
box you found. I was just about to finish the pirate 
chief with a blow of my trusty sword, as we were 
fighting a duel on the beach, when a rooster crowed 
and woke me up. It’s awfully exciting, isn’t it? I 
think we ought to fet up at once and see what’s to 
be done.” 

Rodney was a positive, down-right fellow, while 
Tom was much more apt to think matters out care- 
fully before he ventured on them. He lay looking 
at the ceiling until Rodney could stand it no longer. 

“ Why don’t you say something? ” the younger 
brother demanded. ‘‘A fellow might think you 
20 


ON THE TRAIL OF PIRATE TEACH 21 


were in the habit of finding maps of treasure-islands 
every day.” 

Tom turned his eyes, which he could make look 
almost as large and solemn as those of an owl when 
he wanted, and fixed them on his brother. How 
do we know that box wasn’t just a joke that man in 
the shop was trying to play on somebody? I dare 
say getting people to hunt for Blackbeard’s Island 
is a regular April Fool joke down here.” 

The man in the shop didn’t look much like a 
joker,” said Rodney. “ He looked more like a 
clergyman to me. I don’t believe he had any idea 
what was hidden in that old box. Let’s see what 
Steve has to say about it.” 

The boys slipped out of their beds and tiptoed 
into the next room. The bright sunlight or an 
early rooster had awakened Stephen, too, and he 
was looking at the ceiling, absorbed in thought. 

“ Hello! ” he exclaimed as his two cousins came 
in. “ I bet I know what got you up so early ! That 
precious old island I ” 

Tom thinks that Blackbeard’s Island is a regular 
April Fool joke down here in Charleston,” said 
Rodney. “ What do you say about it ? ” 

“ Well, I know pretty nearly all the April Fool 
jokes there are,” answered Stephen, and I never 

heard of this one before. To tell you the truth ” 

He sat up, and after looking mysteriously about the 
room, as though he thought there might be someone 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


listening, said in a dramatic whisper, ‘‘ I believe 
there’s something in it ! ” 

“ Seems as if there might be,” said Rodney. 

Both boys looked at Tom, and it was plain they 
thought his opinion of decided importance. 

Tom looked out the window at the boughs of 
the magnolia, looked up at the ceiling, balanced 
backward and forward on his toes, and then said 
impressively, “ Well, I think it’s a good sporting 
chance that there may be something in it.” 

It took the three a very short time to dress. 
Once dressed, they took the precious box, which 
had stood on the table near Tom’s bed, down-stairs 
to the porch. The old map was still in its secret 
pocket in the box, and the drawings on it had not 
been changed over night. Laying it flat on the porch, 
the boys pored over it again. The more they studied 
it, the more they seemed to understand the drawing. 
The outline showed an island about three times as 
long as it was wide. An arrow in the corner of the 
parchment indicated that the length of the island 
ran almost north and south. Near the southwest 
corner two parallel black lines ran into the interior, 
and the letter R led the boys to suppose that these 
black lines indicated a tidal river. To the east of 
the river’s mouth were a lot of black marks that 
the boys could not decipher. The river — if river it 
was — ran north, and at about one-third the length 
of the island there was a cross, and from this a path 


ON THE TRAIL OF PIRATE TEACH 23 


seemed to leave the river and zigzag in a northeast 
direction to a point not very far from the eastern 
shore. This point was marked with a circle, and 
from it two small parallel lines led to the east coast. 
Very close to this circle was a cross marked in red, 
which seemed to the boys to indicate that this was 
the point of chief importance to the maker of the 
drawing. For half an hour the boys, studied this 
mysterious document. Then Jacob, the colored 
servant, announcing that Mrs. Sims was waiting for 
them at breakfast, they hurried in. As they took 
their places at table Stephen’s mother told them that 
she, too, had been thinking about Tom’s purchase. 

Breakfast finished, they held a council of war. 
There was nothing more to be learned from the 
map at present, so Tom entrusted it to his aunt, 
who said that she would lock the box in a small 
safe in her room. The next question was as to 
what use the three were to make of their discovery. 

Do you think we’d better tell the other boys in 
the troop about it? ” Stephen asked. ‘‘ Maybe they 
could give us some good ideas.” 

We’ve got ideas enough,” said Tom. What 
we want is to pick out the most important ones. 
Suppose we tell them about it, and ask them to keep 
it secret; some of them might, but one or two 
would almost surely give the thing away. Then 
we’d have the town hunting for the island, and that 
would spoil the whole thing.” 


24 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


‘‘ Well, here come two of the troop now,” said 
Stephen. Suppose you sound them out, Tom, and 
see what you think about them.” 

Up the path came a couple of boys in scout 
suits, Jack Potter and George Collins. For a few 
minutes they all talked about a hike the troop was 
planning for the next Saturday; then Tom abruptly 
said, Did you fellows ever hear of a man called 
Blackbeard? ” 

Bluebeard, you mean,” said George. The 
one who wouldn’t let his wife look into the closet.” 

No, I don’t,” said Tom. I mean Blackbeard, 
a pirate who used to hold up ships sailing out of 
Charleston.” 

Jack shook his head. ‘‘ Never heard of him,” 
said he. I don’t believe there ever was such a 
fellow. They’re all just old fairy tales, Blackbeards 
and Bluebeards, and the rest of them.” 

“Did you ever hear of hirn?” asked George. 
“ Is that a story they tell up in New York about us 
down here ? ” 

“No,” said Tom; “but I think if there had 
been a pirate here it would be good fun to see what 
we could find out about him.” 

“ Excuse me ! ” said George. “ I’d rather go on 
a hike through the woods any day than hunt all the 
old pirates people yarn about.” 

“ That’s just it,” agreed Jack. “ People always 
talk about pirates, but they don’t ever show us any.” 


ON THE TRAIL OF PIRATE TEACH 25 


** Well, we could ” — began Stephen, when a 
quick look from Tom stopped him. We could go 
on a hike almost any time,’' he added, rather lamely. 

Plans were made for the troop’s next hike, and 
then Jack and George went on to hunt up others of 
the troop. Tom shook his head. '‘No, I don’t 
think we’d better tell them anything about it,” he 
declared ; " they’d always be thinking up objections, 
and we don’t want that sort of people in our party. 
Don’t believe in pirates! Why, you might as well 
say you don’t believe in Indians ! ” 

" They have seen Indians, but they’ve never seen 
a pirate,” said Stephen, trying to stand up for the 
two boys of his troop. 

" Well, there are a lot of things you haven’t seen 
that you believe in,” said Tom. " For instance. I’ve 
never seen a king, but I know there are kings over 
in Europe.” 

That seemed to settle the argument, and without 
more discussion it was decided that the secret should 
not be shared with the rest of Stephen’s troop. 

The middle of that morning, Mrs. Pinckney, 
arranging some flowers in her sitting-room, was sur- 
prised to find three young visitors knocking at her 
door. There was an air of mystery about them that 
made her smile as she asked them to come in and 
be seated. 

Tom was the spokesman. " We would like to 
know something more about that fellow Blackbeard,” 


26 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


he said, sitting on the edge of his chair and looking 
very solemnly at the rosy-cheeked old lady. 

she said, I thought you would like the 
old fellow; but I'm afraid I have told you all I know 
about him.” 

“ When was the time he stole your great-great- 
great-grandfather’s money from his ship?” asked 
Tom, as if he were a lawyer questioning a witness. 

“ It was in 1718,” Mrs. Pinckney answered. 

‘‘And have you any idea where he hid his booty ? ” 
was Tom’s next question. 

“ Dear me, no ! ” she answered ; “ if I had I’d have 
gone to hunt for it long ago.” 

“ Well, what did people use to say about his 
hiding-place? ” Tom went on. 

Mrs. Pinckney laughed. “ You know how it 
is with such stories,” she said. “ People like to 
make a good yarn about a pirate. They said he 
hid his treasures on a number of small islands lying 
south of here. Some of the Sea Islands off Beaufort, 
I suppose they meant.” 

“And you never heard anything more definite 
than that? ” Tom next asked. 

“ No, I never did. You see it all happened nearly 
two hundred years ago.” 

That was all they could learn from Mrs. Pinck- 
ney, and the three boys next went to the old curiosity 
shop where Tom had bought the box. They had 
carefully prepared a plan so as not to arouse the 


ON THE TRAIL OF PIRATE TEACH 27 


shopkeeper’s curiosity too much. Stephen again 
looked over some foreign postage stamps and at 
last bought a few for his collection, and, in the 
meantime, Tom, in a very off-hand way, told the 
little man in the skull-cap how much pleased he was 
with the box he had purchased. I think it must be 
very old,” he said. “ I suppose from the look of it 
it might have been made two hundred years ago, 
perhaps.” 

The shopkeeper squinted, as though he were try- 
ing to recall the box he had sold. “ Well, I shouldn’t 
wonder if it might have been,” he agreed. They 
used to make things to last in the old days.” 

Stephen went on looking at stamps ; and presently 
Tom said, Remember where you got that box? ” 

Again the shopkeeper squinted. “ Let me see. 
Seems to me it came with a lot of goods I bought 
from an old warehouse down at the harbor, an old 
exporting house it was, that used to do quite a trade 
with the West Indies, but was going out of business 
and sold off the old chests and trunks and such like. 
That sort of a house collects a lot of old curiosities 
in the course of trade. I dare say they’d sent goods 
back and forth between here and Havana in that box 
many a time.” 

Stephen chose a row of stamps he wanted, and 
the shopkeeper picked them off from the page and 
put them in a little envelope. 

You never heard anyone say anything more 


28 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


about that particular box, did you ? ” asked Tom. 
“ Nobody ever came in wanting one just like it, I 
suppose ? '' 

The man shook his head. “ No, no ; people don't 
use that sort of box nowadays, and I don’t think 
anybody ever asked for the price on it till you came 
in yesterday.” 

All this time Tom had been watching the man 
closely, and he was now convinced that the latter 
had not intended to play any joke on the box’s pur- 
chaser nor had any particular interest in its history. 
So far as the shopkeeper was concerned, the box was 
evidently simply one of a lot bought from the 
trading-house. 

‘^Well, I guess that’s all,” said Tom; and 
Stephen, taking the hint that his cousin had learned 
all there was to learn, paid for his stamps and the 
three went out of the shop. 

They had dinner, and then a brilliant idea oc- 
curred to Stejphen. ‘‘ My uncle’s a lawyer and he 
knows most everything. Suppose we go down to 
his office and have a talk with him. We needn’t 
tell him what we’ve found, unless it’s absolutely 
necessary. If we do have to tell him. I’m sure he 
can keep a secret as well as mother can.” 

It was clear that they would have to have the 
advice of some one else if they were to make much 
further progress in their search, and so Tom and 
Rodney at once agreed to Stephen’s suggestion. 


ON THE TRAIL OF PIRATE TEACH 29 


Mr. Samuel Sims’ office was in an old building 
down on Broad Street, and after waiting a few 
minutes in his outer office the boys were shown into 
his private room. Rows of old green boxes with 
labels stood on shelves all about the room. A large 
safe in one corner gave an air of great responsibility 
to the place. The windows, giving on to a small 
yard at the back of the building, looked as if they 
had not been washed since the last rain. In spite of 
these musty surroundings, Stephen’s Uncle Samuel 
was an alert, very pleasant-looking person, and he 
shook hands with all three boys as though he would 
rather have seen them than any other callers. 

“And what can I do for you, gentlemen?” he 
said, as he waved them to chairs. “ Would you like 
me to draw you a mortgage, or had you thought of 
making your wills to-day?’’ 

“ You’ll probably think we’re crazy. Uncle Sam,” 
said Stephen. “ We want to ask you a lot of ridicu- 
lous questions, and if you don’t mind we would 
rather not tell you the reason just now.” 

“ Very good,” said Mr. Sims. “ I’m used to 
being asked a lot of ridiculous questions, and very 
often people fail to tell me why they asked them. 
Fire away ! What’s first ? ” 

“ You ask questions best, Tom,” suggested 
Stephen. 

So Tom, pulling a lock of his sandy hair, as 
he did when very much in earnest, took the floor. 


30 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


“ We’re very much interested in a story we’ve 
run across about an old pirate named Teach, or 
Blackbeard, who used to take money from ships 
sailing out of Charleston about 1718. Do you know 
about him ? ” 

Oh, yes, indeed,” answered Mr. Sims, as if he 
had all the information about the pirate at his finger- 
tips. There are a number of people in Charleston 
whose ancestors suffered at Teach’s hands. He 
seems to have been an extraordinary person. One 
of the stories about him is that he captured a ship 
from here with a prominent merchant named Samuel 
Wragg and some others on board, and then as some 
of his crew were sick he sent a boat to the city with 
a message to the governor that he would cut off 
the heads of Mr. Wragg and the others and have 
them sent to the governor unless the governor sup- 
plied him with the medicines he needed. The gov- 
ernor was furious, but the families of the prisoners 
insisted that he should send the medicines; so the 
medicines were sent back in a small boat. Then 
Teach took all the money from his prisoners. Some 
people say he got as much as six thousand dollars in 
specie from Mr. Wragg alone, and he set the pris- 
oners on shore some distance from the city. After- 
wards the governor and the council fitted out ships 
to fight the pirates. They got some of them and 
hung them, but they never laid their hands on 
Mr. Blackbeard” 


ON THE TRAIL OF PIRATE TEACH 31 


There’s no doubt that there was such a man, 
then? ” Tom demanded. 

“ No doubt whatever,” said Mr. Sims. I think 
he was finally captured by an expedition sent from 
Virginia, but I’m not sure of that.” 

“And do the stories say what he did with all the 
money he took from these people, from Mr. Wragg 
and the others ? ” 

The lawyer smiled and rubbed the tips of his 
fingers together. 

“ The stories say that he used to hide the money 
on islands along the coast, but that’s what stories of 
pirates always say. I won’t vouch for that yarn ; but 
as he couldn’t very well have put the money in the 
bank, I suppose it’s as likely he hid it somewhere as 
that he did anything else with it.” 

Tom looked at the long rows of filing-boxes 
while he thought what question he should next ask. 
“ Mrs. Pinckney told us she thought the pirate 
might have hidden his money on the islands off 
Beaufort, the Sea Islands, she called them.” 

“ Yes,” agreed Mr. Sims, “ that’s what many 
people used to think. There are a lot of small sandy 
islands, with wide marshes, live-oaks, and palmettoes, 
off Beaufort. The darkies grow cotton on the big- 
gest of them, and one or two are owned by a man 
who uses them for hunting. Some of the smaller 
ones, farthest out from the coast, are as deserted 
as in Blackbeard’s day.” 


S2 BLACKBEARD^S ISLAND 

Well, do you think he might have used one of 
those islands? ” Tom continued. 

The lawyer nodded his head. ‘‘ If I had been 
in his boots I think they are just the sort of place I 
would have picked out. There aren’t any places 
nearer here that would have served as well.” 

That was encouraging news. Stephen nodded to 
Rodney. “ It isn’t very far to Beaufort, is it. Uncle 
Sam? ” he asked. 

Oh, no. It wouldn’t take you long if the trains 
weren’t so slow. You have to change cars at 
Yemassee. It’s a quaint old town, and I think you 
boys might enjoy running down there to see it. Be- 
fore the war, many Charleston people had their 
summer homes at Beaufort. Why don’t you ask 
your mother to let you go down there, and have a 
look at the old town, Stephen ? ” 

I think I will,” said Stephen, more and more 
pleased as his uncle seemed to wish to further their 
plans. 

‘‘ I guess that’s all now,” said Tom. ‘‘ Thank you 
ever so much for what you’ve told us.” 

Mr. Sims looked inquiringly at each of the three 
boys. ‘‘ I suppose you’ve come upon some clue that 
you’re thinking of following up. Well, I’m not 
going to ask you any questions about it; but I wish 
you luck. If I can help you in any way, be sure and 
let me know. I can keep a secret pretty well. In 
fact, that’s a large part of a lawyer’s business. I 


ON THE TRAIL OF PIRATE TEACH 33 


don’t want to know any more now, but if you do 
find old Teach’s treasure, I hope you’ll give me one 
of the gold-pieces to wear on my watch-chain as a 
souvenir.” 

Tom laughed. We certainly will,” he said. 

Once outside the lawyer’s office, the boys looked 
at each other in great excitement. 

‘‘Well, the trail certainly leads to Beaufort!” 
exclaimed Tom. 

“And those Sea Islands where they grow cot- 
ton ! ” added Rodney. 

“ Jumping Jupiter ! ” exclaimed Stephen. “ Sup- 
pose we should find that one of those islands looks 
like the drawing on the map I ” 

That evening Mr. Sims returned home, and 
after supper the three boys sat round him in the 
sitting-room and told him all they had learned in 
regard to the map and the island it might represent. 
Mr. Sims examined the drawing carefully when 
he had heard their story. 

“If this were a business proposition,” he said 
finally, “ I should say it was about as fishy a story 
as could be found. People have hunted for Captain 
Kidd’s treasure up and down the coast, and I dare 
say for the hidden treasure of every other pirate 
that ever sailed the sea, and I don’t recollect ever 
having heard that they found any of the treasure.” 

He looked at the boys, and thought the eager- 
ness in their faces gave place to disappointment. 


34 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


However, there are some very curious facts 
in all this business. There certainly was a pirate 
named Teach, or Blackbeard, and he certainly stole 
money from ships leaving Charleston. Then I can’t 
see why anyone should have wanted to play a joke 
by hiding this map in the bottom of the box, and 
from what you tell me the shopkeeper had no sus- 
picion of it’s being there. It may be two hundred 
years old. The box and the map certainly look as 
if they might be, and there may be an island that 
corresponds to this drawing. As for the island’s 
being one of those off Beaufort — well, I don’t 
know — it might be or it mightn’t. Anyway, I don’t 
see why you three boys shouldn’t go and see what 
you can find.” 

All three shouted with delight. 

“ That’s bully, dad ! ” cried Stephen, dancing 
round his father and waving his arms like a wind- 
mill. 

“ We’ll find the island, if it’s there to be found. 
Uncle Dick,” Tom solemnly assured Mr. Sims. 

‘‘ You bet we will,” said Rodney. ‘‘And it will 
be great practice for us as scouts anyway.” 

“ I’d like to go with you,” said Mr. Sims, “ but 
I can’t get away just now. ■ Do you think you three 
can take care of yourselves? I know Tom’s got a 
long head on his shoulders, but Steve’s fond of 
getting into hot water.” He smiled at his merry- 
faced son, who had stopped dancing and waving his 


ON THE TRAU. OF PIRATE TEACH 35 


arms and was resting his hands on his father’s 
shoulders. 

‘‘ Well, I’ll keep them both in order,” said 
Rodney. “ I know how to manage Tom, and if 
Steve gets too gay I’ll speak my mind to him.” 

Oh, you will, will you ? ” retorted Stephen. 
‘‘ I’ve got as good horse-sense as Rodney any day.” 

“ I suppose you’d like to start for Beaufort at 
once,” said Mr. Sims. I have a friend who lives 
there. Colonel Whitney. I’ll give you a letter of 
introduction to him, and I’m sure he’ll give you any 
information about the islands you may need. I tell 
you what! You three are lucky chaps! It isn’t all 
boys who have a chance to hunt for real buried 
treasure.” 

The rest of the evening was spent in making their 
plans for the trip. Each boy had his own outfit of 
clothes packed in his own travelling bag, and Mr. 
Sims provided them with all the money he thought 
would be necessary for the expedition. 

When Mrs. Sims spoke to her husband about the 
boys’ trip after the three had gone to bed, her hus- 
band reassured her. 

They’ve all got good judgment, and I know 
enough of Boy Scouts to know that they won’t run 
into any danger recklessly. It ought to be good ex- 
perience for them, and I’ll send a line to Colonel 
Whitney, and ask him to keep an eye on them for me. 
It would be more than human for the boys to resist 
trying to find the original of that island.” 


Ill 


TO THE SEA ISLANDS 

On a September morning, the three boys left 
Charleston by train, bound for the Sea Islands. Tom 
had made a tracing of the map of Teach’s island, 
and had left the copy in the old box in his room. 
The original map he put in the pocket of his coat 
and fastened it in with a pin. He thought it was 
easily the most valuable thing he had ever owned. 

The train wound away eastward from the city, 
and finally deposited the three boys at the junction 
of Yemassee. Here they had to wait nearly an hour 
before a little bob-tailed train, an engine with a com- 
bination baggage-and-passenger car, was ready to 
take them down to the coast. A ride through pines 
and over a rough road-bed brought them presently 
to the town of Beaufort, once a fashionable summer- 
resort for the rich people of Charleston, but now 
shorn of much of its former glory. A man at the 
station directed them to Colonel Whitney's house, 
and the three walked up the main street, which led 
them along the harbor- front, until they came to a fine 
old house with a two-storied front porch standing in 
a big garden. A smiling negro servant told the 
boys that Colonel Whitney was at home, and in a 
few minutes they were shaking hands with that 
gentleman himself. He was very courteous, and his 
36 


TO THE SEA ISLANDS 


37 


white moustache and little imperial gave him a most 
distinguished look. He read the note from Mr. Sims, 
and then shook hands a second time with the boys. 

You’ve grown a lot since I saw you last, 
Stephen,” said he. “ I reckon boys grow up quicker 
in Charleston than they do down here in Beaufort. 
And now what can I do for you ? ” 

The three had decided that Tom, who was a little 
older than Stephen, should be spokesman for them. 
They had also decided to say that they were looking 
for a certain island that had been described to them 
as a good place to camp out, but to make no mention 
of what they planned to do when they reached the 
island. So Tom now described the size and shape of 
the island on the map, and said that they would like 
very much to find some way to get to it. 

Colonel Whitney listened attentively, and then 
explained the geography of that part of the coast 
to them. Two large islands, one called Ladies’ 
Island and one St. Helena Island, lay nearest to 
Beaufort, and were occupied by a great number of 
small farms belonging to negroes, the chief crop 
being cotton. There were also half-a-dozen old plan- 
tations, more or less deserted now, and a large school 
for negroes. Beyond St. Helena Island lay a cluster 
of small islands. One of these, lying to the east, 
belonged to a man from New York named Blossom, 
who used it as a place to hunt. He had a house, a 
negro superintendent, and plenty of boats at his 


38 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


dock. He often entertained guests there, and it hap- 
pened that he was living on his island now. This was 
the nearest habitation to the small outlying islands 
the boys sought. 

I can arrange to have you ferried across to 
Ladies' Island, and have one of the darkies drive you 
from the landing there across the island and over the 
bridge to Mr. Blossom’s place,” said Colonel Whit- 
ney. ni give you a note for Mr. Blossom, who 
is a most agreeable man. We won’t be able to 
make these arrangements before to-morrow, and I 
hope that I may have the pleasure of entertaining 
you till then.” 

Of course the boys accepted gladly. They had 
dinner with the Colonel and his wife, and their host 
told them a great deal about the old town. After- 
wards the boys went on an exploring expedition by 
themselves. There was a great deal that was inter- 
esting, for the town was very old and there were 
many houses and gardens that had been beautiful 
in their prime. The water-front had a special fas- 
cination for them. From the shore they could see 
the low sandy islands that stretched away out to sea. 
Occasional motor-boats chugged up and down, some 
taking people to the naval station at Port Royal, 
others bent on harbor work. Darkies sat about in 
the warm sun ; some were napping on the grass beside 
the road. There was an air of drowsiness about the 
place that made it hard for the boys to keep awake. 


TO THE SEA ISLANDS 


39 


Finding a comfortable bench, the three sat down 
and, taking out the map, discussed their plans. As 
they were talking, a man with a red, weather-beaten 
face, a faded blue suit, and a cap with a shiny leather 
visor, strolled up to them and leaned against a tree. 

Evening, neighbors,” said he in the friendly 
fashion in which everybody spoke at Beaufort. 
‘‘ Were you planning to do a little hunting here- 
abouts? You’re a little ahead of the season.” He 
grinned as if he had made a joke. 

No,” said Stephen, and added, at least not the 
kind of hunting you mean.” 

Well, there’s all kinds of hunting,” said the 
man. There’s oysters, and there’s turkeys, and 
ducks, and ’possum. Now, what kind of hunting 
might you young gen’lemen be thinking of? ” 

‘‘ We’re not going hunting at all,” said Rodney. 
‘‘ We’re going out to see Mr. Blossom on his island.” 

‘‘ Oh, Mr. Blossom,” said the man. Well, I 
reckon you all will enjoy yourselves. Are you friends 
of his from up North?” 

Tom nudged Rodney to keep him from answer^ 
ing the questions, but the younger boy said, '' No, 
we’re not friends of his yet. We want to have a 
look around the islands.” 

Here Tom frowned and the stranger caught the 
frown, for he quickly bobbed his head, and said 
pleasantly, ‘‘No harm meant, mates. I don’t want 
to pry into anybody’s business. My name’s Peter 


40 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Doan, and I just naturally like to be friendly with 
everybody I meet/’ 

He wasn’t a very attractive-looking man in spite 
of his friendly smile. His eyes were rather red, as 
if he might sometimes drink too much, and his 
clothes were spotted and torn. Yet his voice was 
so conciliatory that Tom was anxious to show that 
he wasn’t offended. 

We’re only going on a little camping trip,” he 
explained. ‘‘We thought one of those islands would 
be just the place for it.” 

“ I’ve got a boat with an engine in it, and I could 
take you anywhere you wanted to go,” said Doan. 
“ I generally use it for hunting and fishing, but I’m 
always glad to take parties out in it. You can find 
me around here any time at all.” With another 
smile and a touch of his cap he walked away, looking 
back over his shoulder once or twice and nodding. 

The three boys returned to Colonel Whitney’s 
late in the afternoon, and had supper in the candle- 
lighted dining-room that looked out on the garden. 
It seemed to the boys from the North that they had 
never tasted such delicious food as the fried chicken 
and corncakes that old Joe, the Colonel’s negro ser- 
vant, put before them, and even Stephen, who was 
used to Southern cooking, couldn’t resist having his 
plate filled three times. The Colonel and his wife 
wanted to know what the boys thought of Beaufort, 
and seemed very much interested in the different 


TO THE SEA ISLANDS 


41 


opinions. Rodney’s views were always the most 
practical, while Stephen’s were the most amusing, 
and Tom had quite a shrewd insight into both people 
and things he met. It was Stephen who mentioned 
their meeting Peter Doan. 

‘‘A chap in a sailor’s cap, with a face as round 
as the moon, and as red as a geranium, offered to 
take us out in his power-boat,” said Stephen. ‘‘ He 
came snooking around as if he was mighty anxious 
to know what we were up to, and he said his name 
was Peter Doan. I shouldn’t wonder if you knew 
him. Colonel. He said he knew everybody in town.” 

‘‘ Oh, yes,” answered the Colonel, chuckling, I 
know him. He’s a queer character, too. He has a 
little house near the water — perhaps you saw it, a 
square sort of a box painted green, and he keeps a 
sharp eye out for everything that happens along the 
shore.” 

He’s an odd combination,” added Mrs. Whit- 
ney. “ He’s a busy-body, and you can’t rely on 
his word. He never misses a chance to make a 
dollar, and some people think he must have saved 
up quite a fair sum of money. He got it into his 
head once that somebody had hidden a box of gold- 
pieces somewhere near Beaufort, and he hunted and 
hunted for a clue, but I never heard he found any. 
He has lots of strange ideas — that’s one of them.” 

Stephen and Rodney glanced at Tom and he 
smiled back at them. 


42 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


‘‘ He didn’t say anything about looking for clues 
to us,” said Tom, but he did seem to want to know 
what we were going to do. We told him we wouldn’t 
want his boat as we’d made arrangements to take 
another one.” 

Nothing more was said about Peter Doan. The 
Colonel and his wife and the boys sat on the porch, 
from which they could see the moon shining over 
the water, and lighting the low islands to the east. 

'‘If you only have good weather, you ought to 
enjoy camping out,” said the Colonel. “ We’ll pick 
up a tent for you to-morrow, and I’m sure Mr. Blos- 
som will lend you a boat, and you can buy your 
provisions direct from him. He always keeps a big 
store of them for his own guests. A month later 
you might find the weather a little cold for camping, 
but now it’s just right. I’d like to go along with 
you myself, but I don’t want to leave my wife alone.” 

" No, you’d better not,” put in Mrs. Whitney. 
“And you don’t know what adventures our young 
friends may run into out there.” 

Indeed, as the boys looked out at the shining 
water, and the low land beyond, it occurred to each 
of them that they might have many adventures out 
there. The place was more mysterious by night than 
by day, and they could well believe that if Blackbeard 
had been looking for a hiding-place one of those 
islands would have seemed a proper goal. 

When the clock struck nine, the boys said good- 


TO THE SEA ISLANDS 43 

night and went up to their rooms, which had a view 
of the water. 

‘‘ So the old fellow down there/' said Tom, direct- 
ing his thumb in the direction of the harbor, has 
hunted for treasure himself, has he? " 

I reckon he’d have given a good deal to see that 
map,” said Stephen. “ I think we’d better be careful 
not to let him get any idea of what we’re up to.” 

‘‘ He looked like a pirate himself,” said Rodney, 
and I wouldn’t want to meet him on a dark night, 
alone.” He turned and looked at his brother. Mrs. 
Whitney seemed to think hunting for treasure was 
pretty ridiculous, didn’t she ? ” 

‘‘ Well,” said Tom, “ of course she might, but 
then she’s a woman and doesn’t know as much as we 
do. There was a Blackbeard, and he did steal money, 
and he must have hidden it somewhere.” 

Stephen, meantime, had stuck his hands in his 
pockets, and was looking out the window jvhile he 
hummed softly to himself : 

“Oh, my name is Captain Kidd, 

As I sailed, as I sailed ; 

And most shockingly I did, 

As I sailed.” 

“ Not SO loud,” cautioned Rodney, or Peter 
Doan might hear you.” 

I don’t give a snap of my finger for him,” re- 
torted Stephen. If he comes prowling ’round our 
island we’ll chuck him into the sea.” 


44 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Next morning the boys and Colonel Whitney 
went to a store in the town and bought a canvas tent, 
some pots and pans and blankets, an ax, two hatchets 
and a spade, and a few other things they thought 
they might need. They had an early lunch, and 
then the boys embarked in a little launch that took 
them across the water to the nearest island. There 
a colored man met them with a cart. They piled 
all their baggage in the cart and were driven across 
that island, and then by bridge to the next one. This 
island, the largest of the group, had many small plan- 
tations on it. They saw many negroes working in 
their cotton-fields or standing at the doors of their 
cabins watching the passing team. Presently they 
drove along a road where the gray moss hung low 
from the trees, giving a twilight look to everything. 
The road then bore to the northeast, and presently 
they came to another bridge; crossing this, they 
reached the island where Mr. Blossom lived, and 
drew up before the front door of his house. The 
owner was patching the canvas deck of a duck-boat 
on his porch, and at the sound of wheels he turned 
to see who the new arrivals might be. Tom handed 
him the Colonel’s letter, and Mr. Blossom read it. 

Henry Blossom was a big man, with light blue 
eyes and brown hair and a brown beard. He looked 
as if he lived most of the time out-of-doors, for 
his skin was much tanned by the sun. His eyes 
were very clear. There was something most attrac- 


TO THE SEA ISLANDS 


45 


tive about him, and as he glanced up from the letter 
each of the three boys took a liking to him. 

Well, young men, I guess I can fix you up all 
right. I own those smaller islands you see out there, 
and rd be very glad to let you look them over, and 
take any one you like for as long as you want. You 
won’t be putting any tenants out. Nobody lives 
there but the oysters and the ducks. What do you 
say to spending the night with me, and starting out 
on your tour early in the morning? Then we can 
talk things over and see what you want to take with 
you.” 

This plan seemed sensible. They paid the negro 
driver, and piled their baggage on Mr. Blossom’s 
porch. The owner showed them through his house, 
which was surprisingly comfortable for such an out- 
of-the-way place. Then he took them to the house 
where his negro superintendent lived, and introduced 
them to the colored mammy and her flock of woolly- 
headed children. Children, dogs and pigs seemed to 
swarm all over that part of the place, and several 
times Mr. Blossom laughingly apologized for the 
lack of order in his domain. 

We never have time to get anything cleared up 
down here,” he said, with a twinkle in his eye. You 
boys from the North will find that you can do an 
awful lot of eating and sleeping down here on the 
islands.” 

Afterwards Mr. Blossom led them around his 


46 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


island, taking them one way through the woods, 
where live-oaks and moss were thick, giving the 
place almost the look of a tropical forest. They 
came back by the beach, where tall palmettoes stood 
just beyond the sand. Mr. Blossom was walking 
ahead with Rodney. 

He looks like Robinson Crusoe,” whispered 
Tom to Stephen. And indeed the big man, in his 
gray flannel shirt, open at the throat, his brown 
knickerbockers, and woollen stockings, did look as 
if he were just the person to be cast away on a desert 
island. 

He was very jolly company, and the boys had 
a splendid evening in his den, where he showed them 
duck-decoys he had made, guns and rods he used in 
hunting and fishing, and told them many yarns about 
his adventures in the islands. On one wall of his 
den hung a map of the coast, and after a while Tom 
stole over to it. He examined the islands carefully, 
and found one that seemed about the shape of the 
island on his map. It lay farthest out to sea, and the 
northern tip of it was less than a quarter of a mile 
from Mr. Blossom’s island. 

Presently Mr. Blossom came over to where Tom 
stood. What’s the name of that island ? ” Tom 
asked, putting his finger on the one he had picked out. 

Mr. Blossom smiled. They don’t have regular 
names,” said he. We call them all the Hunting 
Islands. Is that the one you like best ? ” 


TO THE SEA ISLANDS 


47 


‘‘ You never heard of one called Teach’s Island, 
did you? ” Tom ventured, while the other two boys 
looked at their host. 

Mr. Blossom shook his hea'd. “No, I never 
heard of Teach's Island,’' he said, “ but there are all 
sorts of names for all those places. The darkies call 
them one thing, and the white folks at Beaufort call 
them another. Some of them have the names of the 
different people who owned them. If you like the 
place you can christen it any name you want.” 

They all went out for a breath of fresh air before 
going to bed, and as Mr. Blossom hunted up one 
of his dogs that had a wounded foot, Tom pointed to 
the stretch of land not much more than a stone’s 
throw across the moonlit water. 

“ I think that’s it ! ” he whispered to Rodney 
and Stephen. “ It won’t take long for us to find out 
in the morning. Those two little streams on the map 
will show it clear enough.” 

“ Do you think it can be ? ” said Rodney, looking 
distrustfully at the sandy point that was all he could 
see. 

“ Why not ? ” said Stephen, and he ran down to 
the shore, and, picking up a pebble, threw it as far 
out as he could. “ We’re coming over to see you in 
the morning, Mr. Blackbeard,” he cried, “ and we’re 
going to make you give up all those coins you stole 
long ago ! ” 


IV 


THE TOUR OF DISCOVERY 

Early the next morning a motor-boat with a 
big, bearded man at the wheel and three boys as 
passengers went skimming over the smooth water 
that lapped the Sea Islands. Everything looked very 
fresh and clear, as if the sun had bathed the whole 
world and brought out all the brightest colors. The 
ocean was a deep greenish blue near the boat, grow- 
ing to a much lighter and more silvery blue farther 
away. Where there were beaches on the little 
islands the sands were a light yellow, and the marshes 
and woods were many shades of green, as yet un- 
touched by the hand of frost. 

Stephen, who was more of an artist than the 
other two, leaned forward eagerly, his eyes drinking 
in the clear beauty of the early morning. Rodney 
kept calling attention to various things, pointing out 
a flock of ducks to the right of them, and a buoy 
that marked a hidden rock on the left. Tom had 
taken the map from his inside coat-pocket, and was 
looking now at it, now at the island they were 
approaching. 

Mr. Blossom, glancing over his shoulder, saw 
Tom studying the map. 

What’s that ? ” he asked. Have you got a 
map of your island before ever you set foot on it? ” 
48 


THE TOUR OF DISCOVERY 


49 


“ No,” said Tom. He had consulted with the 
other two before breakfast that morning, and de- 
cided that there would be no harm in telling Mr. 
Blossom the reason for their coming here. We 
want to find an island that’s like this drawing; and I 
think that the one right ahead must be it.” 

“ Where did you get the drawing? ” 

In an old shop in Charleston. We think it’s a 
map of an island where the pirate Blackbeard used 
to come. The map says ‘ Teach’s Island,’ and that 
was the pirate’s real name.” 

Mr. Blossom gave a long whistle. 

‘‘ Whew ! So I may have been owning a pirate’s 
island all the time without knowing it! Don’t tell 
me you’re going to hunt for pirate’s treasure 1 ” He 
laughed lightly. “ Well, it’s all yours if you find it. 
I’d never have found it anyway.” 

The boat slipped up close to the long stretch of 
land. At the northern end the island was chiefly 
marshes, which did not offer a good landing-place, so 
Mr. Blossom steered around to the ocean side, where 
there was a long beach! About half a mile up the 
beach was an inlet. He turned the boat in at this 
point, and stopped it beyond the sand where higher 
ground made a good landing. 

It took a very short time to unload the tent, the 
blankets, the baggage, the supplies of food, and the 
spades that the boys had obtained from Mr. Blossom. 
This wouldn’t be a bad place to pitch camp,” 
4 


50 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


said Stephen, pointing to an open place between the 
trees, where the moss made a soft carpet. “ It’s 
pretty well sheltered from wind and rain, and it’s got 
a mighty fine view of the water.” 

“What do we want of a view?” exclaimed 
Rodney, practically. “ We’ll have other things to 
do than squint at the water.” 

“ Well,” returned Stephen, “ you never can tell 
what might happen, you know. If strangers should 
come along here we might like to have a look at them 
before we let them see us.” 

“Fiddlesticks!” cried Rodney. “You don’t 
think any pirates or Indians are coming after us, 
do you? Perhaps you’re afraid Peter Doan will get 
on our track, and sail round here looking for us.” 

“ It’s a good place to camp, though,” Mr. Blossom 
put in, “ and I shouldn’t wonder if there’s a spring 
near. There are apt to be springs on the islands.” 

Tom was again studying the map. “ Would you 
mind taking us round the island in your boat, Mr. 
Blossom ? ” he asked. “ I feel pretty sure this is 
the place we’re looking for, but I’d like to see all 
sides of it.” 

“ That sounds sensible,” agreed Mr. Blossom. 

They boarded the craft again, and backed down 
the little inlet ; then they ran south along the beach. 
Back of the beach they spied higher ground with pines 
and cedars, and now and then a clump of two or three 
palmettoes. In fact, the centre of the island seemed 


THE TOUR OP DISCOVERY 


51 


to be generally wooded, which might have been repre- 
sented by the shaded portion of the map. At the 
southern end of the beach they saw the hull of a boat 
wedged into the sand — some old ship that had been 
wrecked, and lodged in this place years before. 

'' Yes, I’ve seen that old ship,” said Mr. Blossom, 
when I have been cruising around here. She was 
here long before I bought the place.” 

By rough reckoning, the island was about three 
miles long. At the southern end were more marshes 
like those to the north, and at the southwest corner a 
fairly wide river ran up at the edge of the marshes. 
When Tom saw this he gave a yell of delight. 

That proves it’s Blackbeard’s Island ! ” he cried. 
That’s just the place on the map where there’s a 
river that runs up towards the woods ! ” 

The others looked at the map, and saw that he 
was right. Beyond the river was a small curving 
beach, then high ground that came right down to the 
water’s edge, then more marshes, another tiny beach, 
and they were back at the northern point. 

Mr. Blossom let the boat drift and studied the 
drawing closely. 

It isn’t as carefully made as the plans of our 
coast-surveys,” said he. But probably the old 
pirate had to dash it off in a hurry. I should say, 
however, that that drawing represents this island as 
nearly as any amateur would get it.” 

“The idea of calling Blackbeard an amateur!” 


52 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


exclaimed Stephen. “ I should say he was a pro- 
fessional every time.’’ 

‘‘Amateur map-maker, I meant,” explained Mr. 
Blossom. “ I’m sure he was every inch a profes- 
sional pirate.” 

Having come to the conclusion that this was the 
place they wanted, they returned to the inlet, and 
the bank where they had piled their baggage. Rod- 
ney hunted for firewood, while the others searched 
for a spring. Stephen found clear water bubbling 
up nearby, and Rodney reported plenty of fuel. 
Satisfied on those points, they decided to make their 
camp here, and put up the canvas tent. 

“ I’ll run over to see you every now and then,” 
said Mr. Blossom, “ and if you want anything, tie 
one of your towels to the tall tree at the northern 
point. I could see it from my porch. You ought 
to have a boat of your own, though. I’ll send Joe 
over with a row-boat this afternoon. Good luck to 
you, and keep an eye out for Blackbeard’s ghost, if 
you find his treasure.” 

“ He’s a dandy, isn’t he ? ” exclaimed Stephen. 
“ Gee, but he must have a good time living over there, 
and spending all his time hunting and sailing ! ” 

Camp pitched, the boys started to get their mid- 
day meal. Mr. Blossom had provided them with 
plenty of tins of potted things, and they had sardine 
sandwiches and minced-chicken sandwiches and 
peach preserves for lunch. Rodney was a famous 


THE TOUR OF DISCOVERY 


53 


cook, but they decided there was no use doing any 
cooking then. 

Isn’t it fine to know there’s nobody else on the 
island ? ” said Stephen, looking through the trees back 
of him, then out at the beach. ‘‘We can do just as 
we please here. You can’t do that on the mainland, 
because there’s always somebody near.” He got up 
and went skipping down to the beach, where he threw 
himself on the warm sand. With a shout of delight 
Rodney dashed after him. Tom followed, and pres- 
ently all three were tumbling about in the soft sand 
like so many puppies. 

As Mr. Blossom had said, the air of the islands 
was very balmy at this time of year, and made one 
sleepy, so soon the boys were, like the darkies they 
had seen in Beaufort, napping with one eye open. 

When half an hour had passed in this way, 
Rodney jumped up, saying, “ I’m going for a swim.” 
In less time than it takes to tell, the three were in 
the water, frolicking about like a school of porpoises. 

Dried and dressed again, they felt that it was 
time to begin serious work. 

“ Now,” said Tom, “ I think we’d better start 
our exploring. Let’s go down the beach and see if 
we can find a way back of the marshes that will take 
us over to the river.” 

“ We can have a look at the old ship on the way,” 
suggested Stephen. 

Down the beach they went, Tom in the lead. 


54 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


looking carefully at the woods on his right, as if he 
wanted to locate all possible landmarks. Rodney 
trudged along, whistling a tune, his hands in his 
pockets, his shoulders thrown back. Stephen kept 
skipping little stones out over the waves. 

The ship that was wedged in the sand had been 
a fair-sized smack, with two masts and a cabin, but 
a storm had wrecked her, and other storms that had 
since swept up over the island had carried away a 
good part of her timbers. Only the stumps of the 
masts were left, and the cabin was little more than a 
shed with a roof and benches in it. But a ship, even 
if it be only a wreck, is very hard to resist, and the 
boys climbed up its sides and walked its deck and 
examined its cabin, with as much interest as if it ha,d 
been the finest merchantman. 

Stephen was struck with an idea. 

If it rains, this would be a bully place to come,” 
said he. I don’t see why we shouldn’t camp out 
here anyway. It’s a good deal snugger place than 
the tent under the trees.” 

‘‘ But it’s a good deal further from the spring 
and firewood,” said the practical Rodney. Standing 
in the cabin, he looked through one of the port-holes. 

“ It does make you feel as if you were out at sea,” 
he added. I suppose we could find another spring 
and have our fire on the beach.” 

We’ll see about it to-morrow,” decided Tom. 

It does look good to me, too.” 


THE TOUR OF DISCOVERY 


55 


“ Of course it does! ” exclaimed Stephen. ‘‘ If 
we lived here we would almost feel like Blackbeard 
himself. We can camp out any time, but we can’t 
have a boat to ourselves whenever we want.” 

They left the ship and found themselves almost 
at the marshes. There was no way of getting through 
these except in a boat and even then it would have 
taken a lot of hard poling. They turned west and 
sought a way through the woodland. Where there 
was high ground there was good footing. Making 
their way through the forest, they skirted the marshes 
and finally came to the river. Here they sat down 
on the bank, and Tom pulled the map from his 
pocket. He traced the marks with his fingers. 

“ You see the river follows north till it reaches 
the other marshes,” said he, ''but there’s a point 
here at this cross where the path leads off to the east. 
It seems to go through the woods up toward the 
little stream where our tent is. As far as I can make 
out, that place with the circle in red is where that 
path touches the head- waters of our stream. Now, 
what we’ve got to do is to follow that trail through 
the woods until we come to the stream, mark jthe 
place, and then see whether, by going up the stream 
the distance marked on the map, we’ll come to about 
the same place. If it is, we must be near that red 
circle.” 

" That sounds easy,” said Stephen, jumping up 
and looking about as if he expected to see a well- 


56 


BLACKBEAKD’S ISLAND 


defined trail leading off from the river through the 
woods. 

“ Hold on” said Rodney, Blackbeard didn’t 
blaze the trees, you know. I don’t suppose there 
were many of these trees here in his time. How 
about that, Tom? ” 

I don’t suppose there were,” agreed his brother. 

I think we’ll have to make our trail by the compass. 
I’m going to measure all these distances on the map 
when I get back to camp, and then when Mr. Blossom 
sends us his boat we can go up the river as far a dis- 
tance as this cross represents to the whole length of 
the river.” 

You’ve got a great head,” said the admiring 
Rodney. 

Tom was twisting his pet lock of hair with hi5 
fingers. 

“Of course Blackbeard mayn’t have been very 
accurate,” he said, “ but I don’t see any other way 
for us to locate these crosses and that red circle.” 

Stephen pointed towards the sun, which was now 
about to set above the islands that lay between them 
and the mainland. 

“ I vote for starting back,” said he. “ It’ll be 
dark before long, and we don’t want to get lost in 
the forest on our first night.” 

“And I want to have time to fry those sweet- 
potatoes,” put in Rodney. “ I tell you what ! This 
exploring business gives me a terrible appetite.” 


THE TOUR OF DISCOVERY 


57 


I bet you I can get back to the beach first ! 
cried Stephen, and was off through the woods to the 
east as swiftly as an Indian runner. 

Tom and Rodney followed, each making for a 
different opening in the woods. The trees were not 
very close together, and there wasn’t a great deal of 
underbrush, but the gray moss, which seemed to 
catch and fling itself over most of the trees, made 
the wood-glades dark. Both Rodney and Tom, how- 
ever, had good bumps of direction, and though their 
paths veered apart, each kept heading eastward. 
Tom’s long legs brought him to the beach first, 
without having taken him far out of the way. He 
looked up and down the stretch of sand,, from the 
hull of the ship on the south, to the inlet and camp 
on the north. The beach looked wonderfully smooth 
and quiet. It might indeed have been just such an 
island in the South Seas as Robinson Crusoe first set 
foot on. Then he saw his brother come bursting 
through the trees, a short distance to his left. Rod- 
ney gave a yell that rang across the water and was 
echoed back from the woods. 

“ Well, we’re here all right ! ” he shouted to his 
brother, but what’s become of that old scout, 
Stephen? ” 

Tom joined Rodney, and the two began throwing 
stones at the water to see who could throw the 
farthest. Five minutes passed in this way, and still 
no Stephen appeared. 


58 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


'' I believe he’s lost,” said Tom, and putting his 
fingers to his lips blew a long clear whistle. There 
was no answer, and he whistled again. This time 
there came what sounded like an echo from the 
woods to the north. The boys ran up the beach to a 
point opposite where the sound came from, and 
whistled again. Again came an answer. Keeping 
this up, they gradually directed the lost boy towards 
the beach. As he came nearer, instead of whistling, 
the two imitated the calls of all the animals they 
could think of, barking like a fox, hooting like an 
owl, roaring like a lion, so that any wild fowl in the 
woods or marshes must have thought they were sur- 
rounded by the whole animal kingdom. 

Imitating the calls, Stephen, red in the face, 
burst out from the edge of the trees. 

I lost my bearings in there,” he started to ex- 
plain. I was going north instead of east.” 

“No excuses,” said Rodney. “ You ought to be 
able to smell the salt water, and make for it like a 
good hunting-dog.” 

“ Perhaps I could, if my nose was as long as 
yours,” retorted Stephen. 

“ You’d better not say anything about my nose, 
or I won’t cook you any sweet-potatoes,” rejoined 
Rodney. 

That was a serious threat, and Stephen, almost 
always good-natured, admitted his short-cOmings. 

“ Well, you two did beat me in getting here,” said 


THE TOUR OF DISCOVERY 


59 


he, “ but I bet you can’t either turn as many cart- 
wheels up the beach as I can.” Stephen, being very 
light and supple, was particularly good at turning 
hand-springs, and he went circling over the sand a 
good deal like a bicycle-wheel. 

Tom, also limber, was almost as good at this 
game, but short, stocky Rodney usually fell all over 
himself when he tried it. So he did this time; and, 
after flopping about in several vain efiforts to imitate 
the other two, he gave it up and ran along beside 
them. Presently Tom, out of breath, stopped too, 
and Stephen, having proved his ability at this sport, 
even if he had been beaten in finding his way through 
the woods, gave a cry of triumph and dashed away 
for camp. 

The sun had now set, and the sea was made of 
pink and yellow lights in the afterglow. The camp 
looked inviting, and Rodney at once started prepara- 
tions for supper. Tom found a row-boat fastened 
to the bank of the stream, evidently brought over by 
Mr. Blossom’s man. Stephen gathered loose wood, 
and presently had a fire started in an open space, far 
enough from the trees to avoid setting fire to them. 

Half an hour later the three boys, squatting on 
the ground, had a royal feast. Tom might be good 
at working out plans, and Stephen at all sorts of 
games, but Rodney was far and away the best cook. 
He had fried strips of bacon, baked white potatoes 
in their jackets, and toasted bread, and had filled a 


60 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


plate with his famous fried sweet-potatoes. In addi- 
tion, they had chocolate and part of a cake that 
the colored woman on Mr. Blossom's island had 
presented them. 

Some supper, this ! " said Stephen. ‘‘And it 
does taste a lot better eating it here on our own island 
instead of in a dining-room. Those old pirates must 
have had a good time if they went camping out like 
this all the time." 

“ I don't believe they did," said the practical 
Rodney. “ I guess they were too busy to spend much 
time eating." 

“ It’s funny they never tell you more in books 
about what such men ate," said Tom. “ You’d 
think they were always fighting and sailing around, 
and never ate or slept at all." He looked down at 
the wooden plates that were now as clean as when 
they had come from the cupboard. “ We know 
food’s mighty important when you’re out in the open, 
don’t we ? " 

“Aye, aye, sir!" exclaimed Stephen. Jumping 
up, he touched his hand to his head, and giving a 
hitch to his trousers in true sailor fashion, began 
to chant his favorite lines about Captain Kidd. 

They strolled down to the beach later and watched 
the moon beginning to cover the distant waters with 
its silver fire-flies. The night was very clear, and the 
air was soft and sweet, as if it had blown from a 
land of spices. Down the beach they could just make 


THE TOUR OF DISCOVERY 


out the lines of the ship. A star, low on the horizon, 
standing above the ship’s bow, looked almost like a 
signal lantern. Around a point to the north they 
could see the low line of Mr. Blossom’s island. It 
was rather pleasant to think that the big good- 
natured man was within hailing distance. 

When they went back to their camp, they put out 
the fire, as the September night was not cold. They 
piled blankets for beds under the canvas tent. With 
the flaps of the tent lifted, they could see the moon 
on the water, and catch the occasional call of a bird 
somewhere in the distance. Presently a long drawn- 
out cry, the note of a loon or some night-bird, 
rang through the silence. Stephen raised himself on 
his elbow. 

'' That sounds like Blackbeard calling to his men,” 
he said. “ They might have scattered over the 
beach, and he wants them to come back to the ship. 
Look,” he pointed out at the water. A cloud, pass- 
ing across the moon, made a dark place on the silver 
ripples. There’s his ship gliding away from the 
island,” he added. 

“What nonsense!” sniffed Rodney. “I’m too 
sleepy to care for all the pirates in the world.” 

Tom, turning over on his side, gave a loud yawn. 
“ Forget that stuff till to-morrow, Steve,” he said. 
“ Then we’ll get a compass and a ruler and see if 
we can find out whether your old friend Blackbeard 
ever was really here.” 


V 


THE SHIP AND THE SPY 

The three boys were up early next morning, and 
out for a swim in the ocean before the sun had had 
much chance to warm the water. They had break- 
fast, and then, taking the map, a compass, a ruler, 
and some paper and pencils, held a council under one 
of the palmettoes that stood close to the beach. Tom 
made a rough copy of Teach’s map on a sheet of 
paper, and then marked it with figures taken from 
his measurements of the original drawing. 

‘‘ I don’t like to mark Blackbeard’s own map, but 
I want to get all these figures straight,” he explained. 

He traced a line through the woods from the 
point they had reached on the river the day before, 
and then figured how far up the little stream that ran 
by their camp they would have to go before they 
reached the place where the path through the woods 
should strike it. This point, they finally decided, 
must be about a quarter of a mile inland from the 
beach. Then Tom filled in the rest of his rough 
outline drawing with the marshes, the trees, the 
beaches, and the rest of the local geography of the 
island as they had learned it. 

That’s a good-looking map,” said Stephen, 
when Tom finished it. “Of course there’s almost 
62 


THE SHIP AND THE SPY 


63 


half the island we haven’t explored yet, but you’ve 
got the part we do know in great shape.” 

They were still studying the drawing when the 
chug of a motor-boat caught their ears, and looking 
up, they saw Mr. Blossom turning into their inlet. 
He drew up to the bank, shut off the motor, caught 
the painter of his boat about a sapling, and came 
ashore. 

‘‘ Well, my hearties ! ” he cried. ‘‘ The pirate 
didn’t walk last night, did he? You three seem to be 
all right, and the island looks just the same as it did 
yesterday. What you got there ? ” 

They showed him Tom’s drawing, and pointed 
out what they had discovered the day before. He 
was very much interested in the drawing, and said 
that, though he had often been over to the island on 
hunting-trips, he hadn’t learned as much about the 
interior as they had found out in one afternoon. 

‘‘And we went on board the old ship, too,” said 
Stephen. “ It’s in pretty good shape, and I’d rather 
camp there than up here on the bank. Let’s see 
what Mr. Blossom thinks about it,” he said to the 
other boys. “ It would be a whole lot drier than 
our tent, if we get any rain.” 

“ Yes, I would like to have a look at it,” agreed 
Mr. Blossom. “ The beauty of living on a ship stuck 
in the sand is that you can get the smell and the look 
of the sea without being bounced up and down. That 
the way you feel about it, Stephen, my boy? ” 


64 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Oh, no, Fm a good sailor,’' Stephen answered. 

What I like is to hear the waves slapping against 
the sides of the boat at night.” 

Henry Blossom and the boys went down the 
beach to the old vessel marooned on the shore. At 
this stage of the tide a little water had crept between 
the hull and the beach, and they had to jump from 
the shore to the deck. Once on board, they explored 
the ship again : its forward deck, with a broken bow- 
sprit and the stump of a mast ; the cabin that smelled 
of tar; and the after-deck, where the planks were 
almost white with the long bleaching of sunshine. 

It’s a pretty good ship,” said Mr. Blossom, as 
he stood in the bow, high above the beach. I’d 
rather like to camp out here myself. All you need is 
to get a sapling, fasten it to the broken mast, run up 
your flag, christen the craft ' The Jolly Roger,’ and 
you’ve got as fine a pirate’s ship as you’d meet in 
many a day. This might have been a pirate’s ship, 
you know. Who can tell how many fights have 
taken place on that deck there? Or how much ran- 
som’s been paid across the table in the cabin?” 
Gesturing with his hands, his blue eyes shining with 
love of adventure, Henry Blossom looked not unlike 
a buccaneer himself. 

Careful now, Steve,” said Rodney. “ Don’t 
you sing your pet song about Captain Kidd.” 

Why not ? ” exclaimed the big man by the bow. 

You know that song? It’s a mighty good one for 


THE SHIP AND THE SPY 65 

four lusty men. Come along.” His deep bass voice 
rolled out the words : 

“Oh, my name is Captain Kidd, 

As I sailed, as I sailed ; 

And most shockingly I did, 

As I sailed.” 

The three boys joined in the singing, and their 
voices carried a good half-mile across the water. 

“ That ought to frighten off anybody, even Peter 
Doan,” said Tom, laughing. 

“ Peter Doan ! ” exclaimed Mr. Blossom. Do 
you boys know him ? I thought I saw him cruising 
’round my island this morning in that funny old 
power-boat of his. We had a scrap once about the 
price of some fish he sold me, and he hasn’t been to 
see me for a long time. I thought perhaps he’d come 
to make up, and sell me something else.” 

He probably wanted to find out what we were 
doing,” said Rodney. 

‘‘ Well, if he does, mum’s the word,” said Mr. 
Blossom, putting his finger to his lips in a signal of 
caution. He made such a face that the three boys 
burst out laughing. 

‘‘ Let’s bring our stuff round here while we’ve got 
Mr. Blossom’s boat,” suggested Stephen. 

Now, pleasant as it was to camp out under the 
trees on shore, there was a novelty about making 
their home on the ship that appealed strongly to all 
three. So, without more discussion, they went back 
5 


66 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


to their tent, loaded their goods on the motor-boat, 
and so brought them around to the vessel. In half- 
an-hour the canvas tent was shielding a part of the 
after-deck, and the stock of supplies was stored away 
in the cabin. Mr. Blossom picked up a bottle of 
ginger-ale and broke it over the ship’s bow. 

“ I christen you ‘ The Jolly Roger,’ ” he said, 
and may you sail your new owners to the place 
where Mr. Blackbeard hid his treasure.” 

Again they embarked in the motor-boat and 
slipped around to the entrance of the river on the 
southern side. Up the river they went until they 
came to the place where the marshes ended in dry 
ground. Here they moored the boat, and, landing, 
followed the bank of the river until they came to the 
point they had reached the afternoon before. The 
sun was high in the sky, and it was much easier to 
plot their course than it had been the previous day. 
With the help of the compass, they struck out through 
the woods on a line as near as possible to the one 
drawn on the old map. They went slowly, stopping 
every now and then to make sure of their direction. 
In this way they crossed the centre of the island, 
where the ground was highest, pushed through thick 
groves where the light was filtered by the gray moss, 
and finally came to a clearing where three or four 
fine oaks rose high above the other trees. 

“ We must have left the river a good way to 
the west of us,” said Rodney. ‘‘ If Blackbeard 


THE SHIP AND THE SPY 


67 


tramped all this way, he was certainly pretty clever 
at hiding his gold; it looks almost like a jungle in 
the tropics/^ 

Tom and Stephen had climbed one of the tall 
oaks, and from a point high above the rest of the 
forest, they told the others what they could see. 

We’re just about the middle of the island,” 
said Tom. I can see the ocean to the east, and the 
marshes on the northwest.” 

I can see Mr. Blossom’s house,” declared 
Stephen. 

Can you see if any of the pigs are rooting 
around in my front yard? I’m always afraid that’s 
what they’re doing when I go away.” 

I can’t make out whether it’s pigs, or dogs, or 
babies,” answered Stephen, but there’s certainly 
something playing around on your front porch.” 

Come along,” said Rodney, who held the com- 
pass, Steve will be seeing things all the way to 
Beaufort, if he doesn’t come down soon.” 

They took up the march again, still north, and 
presently, breaking their way through a tangle of 
underbrush, found themselves very near the bank 
of the little stream. This point must have been 
quite a distance inland from where they had first 
landed. Tom, taking long strides forward, stepped 
to the edge of the water. 

This must be just about the place marked by 
the red circle,” he declared. 


BLACKBEAED’S ISLAND 


Just about, I should say,” agreed Mr. Blossom. 

But it’s on the other bank, isn’t it ? ” said 
Stephen. 

Yes,” assented Tom. ‘‘ The red cross is on this 
shore, but the circle’s on the northern bank.” 

They all looked across the stream, which was 
here only about a dozen yards wide. Thorn-bushes 
came down to the edge of the opposite shore, and 
the place certainly looked as if no one had ever been 
there before. 

It’ll need some clearing out,” said Rodney. 

We’ll have to get our hatchets and clean up those 
bushes before we begin to dig.” 

“And while you’re about it, I’d cut them away 
for some distance along the bank,” suggested Mr. 
Blossom. “ Of course that map isn’t drawn to any 
accurate scale, and the place marked by the red circle 
may be anywhere within a radius of twenty yards or 
so.” He took another look at the drawing. “If this 
is the place, it ought to be about a quarter of a mile 
back to the beach. I’m a pretty good judge of dis- 
tance. Let’s see if it is.” 

Tom cut a mark on an oak sapling that stood close 
to the stream, and then they turned east and went 
along the shore of the stream till they came to the 
place where they had camped the night before. 

“ Just about a quarter of a mile, I should judge,” 
announced Mr. Blossom. “ I take it that you’ve 
located somewhere pretty near Blackbeard’s treas- 


THE SHIP AND THE SPY 


69 


ure.” He added, “ That is, if this is really Black- 
beard's island, and if he really hid any treasure." 

It was now almost noon, and all four were so 
hungry that they dashed down the beach to the ship 
and fell upon the tinned goods and the bread and 
butter as if they had been deserted mariners attacking 
the first supply-ship they had seen in weeks. Then 
they spread their blankets on the after-deck, and 
made themselves comfortable, while Mr. Blossom lit 
his pipe and told them stories about the days when 
the Union fleet had sailed up to Port Royal and 
captured this part of the coast in the Civil War. As 
he stopped talking, he grunted. 

“ Humph ! you're not very complimentary to my 
yams," he said. ‘‘ Every one of you sound asleep ! " 
'' Oh, no. I'm not," said Tom, opening his eyes, 
“ only somehow I could listen better with my eyes 
shut." He prodded Stephen in the ribs. Wake up, 
Steve, it's time for breakfast ! " he exclaimed. 

'' I wasn't asleep," said Stephen, rubbing his 
eyes, and sitting up. Really I wasn't," he added 
to Mr. Blossom. ‘‘ But I could think about what 
you were saying better with my eyes shut." He 
turned and gave Rodney a punch. “ Time to go 
ashore. Rod," he said. “Don't you know you 
oughtn't to snore when Mr. Blossom's talking? " 
Rodney raised his head. 

“ I wasn't," said he, “ I heard every word — only 
the sun makes my eyes smart." 


70 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


All three were now sitting up, looking rather 
shame-faced. 

I don’t mind,” said Mr. Blossom, laughing, 
but as long as you three have had your naps. I’m 
going to take mine now.” 

Half-an-hour later, they cut across through the 
woods to the place where they had left the motor- 
boat. Here Mr. Blossom embarked again for his 
home, and the boys went back to the ship, got two 
hatchets and an axe, and retraced their path to the 
place in the bushes where Tom had marked the 
sapling. First they cut down a small tree and placed 
it across the stream for a bridge; crossing by this, 
they began to make a clearing on the opposite bank. 
This took a long time, and it was sunset before they 
had cleared the ground in a radius of twenty yards. 

Now,” declared Tom, as he looked at the 
cleared space, filled with the roots of many thorn- 
bushes, ‘‘ we’ve got to dig all ’round there till we 
strike something. And the place may not be any- 
where in that clearing either, because we can’t tell 
exactly how to locate the circle.” 

Well, I hope we don’t have to clear out the 
whole woods,” said Stephen. 

The whistle from a boat going toward Beaufort 
came to their ears. 

That’s the six o’clock whistle,” said Rodney, 
‘'time to stop work.” Shouldering his axe he 
tramped back along the shore. 


THE SHIP AND THE SPY 


71 


They had finished supper, and Rodney and 
Stephen were stowing away the cooking things in a 
corner of the ship’s cabin, and Tom was bringing 
more wood to the place where they built their camp- 
fire at the edge of the beach, when the noise of a 
motor-boat engine caught their attention. Climbing 
up from the cabin to the forward-deck, Rodney 
looked in the direction of the sound. A boat, smaller 
than Mr. Blossom’s, was coming around the southern 
point of the island. The other two boys glanced at 
the boat, but paid it no further attention. 

Stephen, busily scouring a frying-pan, heard 
Rodney on deck calling down to him. I say, Steve, 
that boat’s coming up this way. And from the look 
of the man at the wheel I’d say it might be Peter 
Doan!” 

Stephen hastily dropped the frying-pan, and 
climbed to the deck. Tom had gone back to the 
woods, and was out of sight. The two boys stared 
hard at the low craft that came chugging over the 
water toward them. 

It is he,” muttered Stephen. I could tell that 
red face of his on a pitch-black night.” 

What’s he doing out here ? ” demanded Rodney, 
very suspiciously. don’t want him butting in.” 

Peter Doan, however, was not easily rebuffed. 
When his boat was within some fifty yards of the 
ship, he let it run in the water, and, taking off his 
visored cap, waved it at the boys. 


72 


BLACKBEAKD’S ISLAND 


Evening, mates ! ” he called. “ I see you got a 
ship of your own there. Got everything you want ? ’’ 

'' Everything/’ answered Rodney, positively. 

That’s good,” said Doan, and he brought his 
boat a little nearer to them. ‘‘ How are you planning 
to pass your time on this here island ? Looks kind 
of lonely to me.” 

In spite of Tom’s previous warning to them not 
to answer too many questions, Stephen found it very 
hard to make no reply. 

Oh, we’ve plenty to do with swimming, and 
fishing, and cooking,” said he. 

“ That’s all you are doing, is it ? ” inquired Doan, 
and he leaned forward as if he would try to see if 
Stephen were telling him the whole truth. Well, 
it’s a pretty nice island. Of course, I’ve been out 
here before, but I never was over it from shore to 
shore. What’s up in the woods there ? ” 

There’s nothing but woods and marshes and 
two little streams,” said Rodney, hoping to get rid 
of the man by speaking very shortly. 

Oh, is that all? ” said Doan; with a turn of the 
wheel he brought his boat almost alongside the ship. 

At this point Tom, his arms filled with small 
wood, came down the beach, and to his surprise 
found a motor-boat close to the shore. He dropped 
the wood by the fire, and walked to the edge of the 
water, where he glared rather defiantly at their 
visitor. 


THE SHIP AND THE SPY 


7S 

Hello ! ” said Doan. “ How would you like 
for me to come ashore and make you a little social 
call?’’ 

This question required some diplomacy. Tom 
didn’t want to offend the man, and yet he certainly 
didn’t want him poking around the island. He hit 
on a neat way out of the difficulty. 

'' We’re awfully sleepy,” he said, ‘‘ and we were 
just thinking of going to bed.” 

“ Why,” said Doan, “ it ain’t eight o’clock; and 
there’s going to be a fine moon pretty soon. I can 
tell you some yams about the days when they used 
to smuggle slaves in through these islands that’ll 
make your hair stand up straight.” 

It’s hard enough to make mine lie down now,” 
said Tom, with a chuckle. ‘‘ No, thank you, Mr. 
Doan,” he added. We really were going to bed.” 
He pulled himself up on the deck of the ship, as if 
he meant to end the matter then and there. 

Well, I must say you’re not very hospitable,” 
grunted Doan. But I’m a good sport. I’d like to 
have a look at the island. I haven’t stepped foot on 
it since that fellow Blossom bought it.” 

Of course it was impossible for the boys to refuse 
to let him land, and there was little present chance of 
his learning anything of their secret by himself. Yet 
his persistence aroused strong dislike in each of 
them, and almost made them regard him as an enemy. 
He wouldn’t take a hint. He was, indeed, as Mrs. 


74 


BLACKBEAED’S ISLAND 


Whitney had said, a busybody, prying into other 
people’s affairs. 

None of the three said anything about his land- 
ing. Instead they sat down on what was left of the 
rail of the after-deck, and began to whisper to one 
another. Doan’s boat chugged along the beach, poked 
its way a short distance up the little stream, backed 
out again, and finally came down to the ship. 

‘‘ I can’t tell much about the place at this time of 
night,” said the skipper. ‘‘ If you say the word. I’ll 
bring some nice ripe watermelons down here to- 
morrow, and we’ll have a picnic. Don’t that soimd 
good to you ? ” 

Rodney, losing his temper, stood up and shouted^ 
No! ” at the top of his voice. 

Doan fell back in his seat almost as if a bullet had 
struck him. 

‘‘ My, but you’re a fierce young cub ! ” he ex- 
claimed. ‘‘All right, then, I won’t bring you out any 
watermelons, but I’ll come with a friend or two and 
have a picnic myself just to show you you don’t own 
these here islands ! ” 

He looked angry now, and Rodney was con- 
science-stricken at what he had done. 

“ Oh, r didn’t mean to drive you away, Mr. 
Doan,” he said. “Of course, we know you’ve got 
a right to be here.” 

“ Well, I should say I had I ” exclaimed the other, 
“ and I’ll tell you something more, — I keep an eye on 


THE SHIP AND THE SPY 


75 


what folks do around here. If I catch you up to any 
mischief I’ll tell Blossom about it.” 

“ You can tell him anything you like,” retorted 
Stephen. What mischief could we do in a place 
like this ? ” 

‘‘ I don’t know what, but you might,” answered 
Doan, mysteriously. ‘‘ There’s no telling what young 
fellows like you may do when they get a chance, 
you know.” 

Quick-tempered Rodney was about to make 
another reply, when Tom caught him by the coat 
and pulled him down on the rail. 

Keep still,” he muttered. 

“ Look here, Mr. Doan,” Tom went on, ‘‘ I’m 
sorry we’ve had any words. I’m sure we want to be 
friendly with everyone here. Come whenever you 
like, and I’ll eat your watermelon, even if they 
won’t.” 

You’re a soft-spoken young fellow,” said Doan, 
rather grudgingly. Well, I’ll think it over. People 
hereabouts ain’t used to getting the cold shoulder. 
Put that in your pipe and smoke it.” With a grunt 
he started his motor up, and headed his boat off to 
the north again. 

For a minute or two the three looked at each 
other in silence. 

He’s an old spy,” said Stephen. ‘‘ You might 
think he’d found out something about us from the 
way he comes poking ’round. I’m sorry I answered 


76 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


him back, but something about him makes me want 
to bite him/’ 

I know,” agreed Tom. “ He’s the sort that 
makes you bristle like a porcupine. Well, I don’t 
see what harm he can do as long as we keep our secret 
to ourselves.” 

Yet, in spite of Tom’s words seeming to be true, 
they all felt somehow as if the privacy of their 
island had been invaded. There was no knowing 
when Doan might come spying on them. 

I suppose we could get Mr. Blossom to order 
him not to land anywhere here,” said Tom. “ But I 
don’t think that would be wise. It would make him 
more suspicious than ever.” 

But what has he got to suspect ? ” demanded 
Rodney. 

Nothing, of course,” said Tom, but there are 
people who suspect a clergyman of taking money out 
of the collection plate. He’d rather suspect things 
than eat his supper.” 

They had stretched the canvas top of the tent 
over part of the after-deck, and under this they 
spread their blankets. With the water lapping against 
the sides of the ship, and the stars shining over the 
low roof of the cabin, the three boys went to bed, 
feeling, as Mr. Blossom had said, as if they really 
were on a ship at sea, without being bounced up and 
down by the waves. 


VI 


A WILD GOOSE CHASE 

Next morning. the boys brought the row-boat 
that Mr. Blossom had loaned them round to the 
side of the ship. They had had the foresight to 
borrow two shovels from Mr. Blossom, and these, 
with the one they had bought at Beaufort, provided 
each of them with what was needed for the next work 
in hand. Provisions for a light lunch were put in 
the boat; then they rowed up to the entrance of the 
small stream and followed that inland. In places 
the stream was so narrow that they had to use the 
oars for poles, and push against the bank. They 
were able to get their craft all the way up to the 
point where they had cut away the bushes the day 
before. Here they fastened the boat. On the bank 
to the north of the stream there was now a good- 
sized clearing, and some part of it they thought must 
represent the place that Blackbeard had marked with 
the red circle on his map. 

Their coats off, their sleeves rolled up above the 
elbows, the three started work. The soil was sandy, 
and that part which bordered on the little river kept 
slipping into the water as they dug at it. Where 
the bushes had grown, there was a tangle of roots 
which made digging more difficult, but they were so 

77 


78 


BLACKBEAED’S ISLAND 


much interested that they tackled the job with the 
greatest energy. 

Each of the three took a section of the clearing, 
and dug there. From time to time they rested, for 
the day was warm, and they were not accustomed to 
handling heavy shovels. When they rested, they 
talked, sometimes about Blackbeard, sometimes about 
Peter Doan and his reasons for following them. 
Then they would start work again, till they had 
plowed up the whole surface, so that it looked like 
a field ready for sowing. 

Stephen straightened up and dropped his shovel. 

“ Whew ! ’’ he exclaimed, wiping his face with the 
back of his arm. “ I tell you what ! This is mighty 
good for the muscles of your back ! I didn’t know 
I had so many. I haven’t worked so hard since 
father paid me a dollar to chop up the old apple tree 
in our yard.” 

I suppose Blackbeard had some of his men do 
this sort of work for him,” suggested Rodney. 

“ Yes,” agreed Stephen, while he stood by and 
told them how to do it! What’s the use of being a 
pirate chief unless you can order the others to work 
for you?” He rubbed the blistered palms of his 
hands together and sang : 

“Oh, my name is Captain Kidd, 

As I sailed, as I sailed ; 

And most shockingly I did. 

As I sailed.” 


A WILD GOOSE CHASE 


79 


‘‘ Well, I hope he did hide many things/’ said 
Tom, resting for a minute, and wiping his warm 
face. It’s something like hunting for a needle in a 
haystack, isn’t it ? ” He looked around at the clear- 
ing, which was now surrounded by a low mountain 
of sandy soil they had thrown from the digging. 

Little Jack Horner picked out a corner, where 
the sand was nice and dry ; he put in his thumb, and 
pulled out a plum, saying, ' What a bright boy am 
I ! ’ ” Here Stephen dug his shovel into the earth 
with a stamp of his foot, and then flung the soil away. 
‘‘ There wasn’t any plum in that,” he added. How 
deep do you suppose the old fellow hid his gold ? ” 

They worked for a couple of hours pretty steadily, 
and then hunted up the spring near by, and had a 
drink of the cool water. Then they went back to 
their work, and by noon had dug up the clearing to a 
depth of a couple of feet. They had found nothing, 
except roots and a few stones. It began to look as if 
the search in this place was a wild goose chase. 

When Tom’s watch marked noon, they stopped 
for lunch. They were so hungry that what they had 
brought with them disappeared in a trice. 

I wish we had brought more,” said Rodney. 

I could eat about five times as much.” 

‘‘ I keep thinking of that watermelon Peter Doan 
spoke of,” said Tom. Wouldn’t it taste good just 
about now ! ” 

‘‘Don’t speak of it!” begged Stephen. “You 


80 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


can work better if you don’t eat too much. Come 
along, or Rodney ’ll be falling asleep.” 

Rodney, who was sitting with his back against a 
tree, did look as if he were about to take a nap. At 
Stephen’s suggestion, however, he jumped up, and 
the three picked up their shovels and commenced 
digging again. 

They did the work as systematically as they could, 
trying to sound every part of the clearing. By the 
middle of the afternoon they had gone down to a 
depth of more than three feet, but there was no sign 
of any treasure. Finally Tom stopped. 

I shouldn’t think he’d have hidden it any deeper 
than we’ve dug,” he said. ‘‘If we go down much 
farther, we’ll let the water from the stream run in 
over the bank.” 

All three looked rather disappointed at their 
failure to find anything. Rodney shook his head. 
“ I guess it’s all a fake,” said he. “ I don’t believe 
we’ll find anything here, if we dig down to the centre 
of the earth.” 

“ My back’s almost broken,” said Stephen, rub- 
bing his aching muscles. “ I think we’ve done 
enough for to-day anyway.” 

They put the shovels back in the boat, and sat 
down on the bank. 

“ I’m sure this must be just about the right place,” 
said Tom, positively. “ Those lines on the map 
surely met about here.” 


A WILD GOOSE CHASE 


81 


You know this mightn’t be the island at all/’ 
said Rodney, discouragingly. 

But it must be,” argued Stephen. You 
wouldn’t find two islands the same size, and with all 
the rivers and marshes that were on that map.” 

Still Rodney shook his head, while he stared at 
the trees across the stream. 

“We need a little encouragement,” suggested 
Stephen. “ Suppose I make up another song to 
sing.” 

Tom meantime was pulling his favorite lock of 
hair in deep thought. “If the map was a real map,” 
he murmured, “ this must be the island, and if it’s the 
island, this must be about the right place. I think I’ll 
go over to Mr. Blossom’s and have another look at 
his coast-survey. I’d like to get his views about this 
place, too.” 

“ I’ll go with you,” said Stephen. “ I think a 
little rowing would take the kinks out of my back.” 

“ We ought to leave somebody here,” said Tom. 
“ I shouldn’t want Doan to go hunting ’round with- 
out our knowing it.” 

“ Very well. I’ll stay and guard the island,” 
agreed Rodney. “ I’ll keep oue of those shovels and 
make a little dike along the bank, so the water can’t 
flow in.” 

Stephen and Tom got into the boat and rowed 
out to the ocean and then over to Mr. Blossom’s 
island. They landed at his dock and went ashore. 

6 


82 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


The doors of the house stood open, and the boys 
looked in. The owner was not at home. Hunting 
up Joe, the colored man, they learned that Mr. Blos- 
som had gone to St. Helena’s Island to see some 
friends. They were going down to the dock again 
when they saw the owner come driving over the 
bridge that connected his property with the larger 
island. Mr. Blossom listened to their account of 
what they had done. 

'‘You mustn’t get discouraged,” he advised. 
" You can’t expect to find buried treasure every day.” 

" But we haven’t found it any day yet,” objected 
Stephen, 

"That’s so,” said the big man, pulling at his 
beard. " I meant you mustn’t expect to find it 
right off-hand. We may have gotten some of our 
figuring wrong.” 

" That’s what I think,” said Tom. " Suppose 
we have another look at your government map.” 

They went into the den and consulted the map; 
but this gave them no new clues. When they came 
out again Mr. Blossom rubbed his head thoughtfully. 
" I don’t know what to suggest, boys,” he said- 
" I’m as new at this business as you are. I don’t 
suppose there’s anybody here we could consult on 
hunting buried treasure.” 

" Not unless we ask Peter Doan,” said Stephen, 
with a grin. " Mrs. Whitney told us that he went 
hunting for it once.” 


A WILD GOOSE CHASE 


83 


That reminds me — he came to see us last night,” 
said Tom; and he told Mr. Blossom what had hap- 
pened the previous evening. 

I think I saw him this noon,” said Mr. Blossom. 
‘‘ He and another man named Sam Parry were cruis- 
ing along my shore. I caught Parry stealing some 
of my chickens once, and I warned him to keep 
away. I wonder if Joe can tell us what they were 
doing here.” 

A call for Joe brought that man around to the 
front porch. He said that he, too, had seen Doan and 
Parry in their boat. 

“ They came ashore after you went over to St. 
Helena, Mr. Blossom,” said Joe. ’Pears like they 
wanted to know what the young gen’lemen was doing 
over to the Hunting Islands.” 

‘^And what did you tell them, Joe? ” asked Mr. 
Blossom. 

‘‘ Law’, Mr. Blossom, I didn’t tell ’em anything. 
I jest said they was camping out there, and they had 
taken some food and some shovels from your house. 
Then they wanted to know what the gen’lemen was 
going to do with the shovels, and I told them I 
reckoned they was going to dig. That’s all the talk 
we had, Mr. Blossom.” 

“ Well,” said Tom, when Joe had left the porch, 
if Peter Doan’s always thinking about hunting 
treasure, and he knows we’ve got those shovels, it 
looks to me as if he might want to do some hunting 


84 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


himself. We’ll have to keep a look-out for him.” 

What we’ve found so far won’t help him much,” 
put in Stephen. 

Mr. Blossom seemed to be considering the matter 
in the light of this new information. Suddenly he 
leaned forward and pointed toward the northern end 
of Blackbeard’s island. 

Isn’t that a white flag flying from the top of 
that tree ? ” he asked. “ Surely it is.” 

Tom and Stephen looked where he pointed. 

“ It is ! ” said Stephen ; Rodney must have 
flown it.” 

Tom leaped to his feet. He must want us to 
come back!” said he. What do you think can 
have happened ? ” 

It won’t take us very long to find out,” said 
Mr. Blossom, and he hurried down to his dock. A 
couple of minutes later his powerful motor-boat, with 
the row-boat tied to the stern, was dashing across 
the water toward the point where the white flag flew. 

There was no sign of Rodney on the northern 
point of the island, and it wasn’t till they had come 
around to the beach that they saw him. He was 
walking up and down, his hands stuck in his pockets, 
looking very much like a sentinel on duty. The boat 
was run in to the bank of the stream and made fast. 

What’s up? ” called out Tom. 

Rodney put his finger to his lips, as if for silence, 
and beckoned them over to him. 


A WILD GOOSE CHASE 


86 


Not too loud/' he cautioned. Doan and 
another man are somewhere 'round here, and they 
might hear you. After you two left I stayed for a 
while digging up there in the woods, and then I came 
down to the beach and walked toward the ship. As I 
got near I saw there was somebody on board, and 
then two men jumped out onto the sand and came up 
to me. One was Peter Doan, and the other a tall, 
dark man with a long, black moustache. ‘ So you’ve 
been digging, have you ? ' Doan said, seeing the 
shovel I was carrying. I didn’t say a word, but just 
frowned at them. Then Doan came nearer and said, 
‘ You might as well tell us what you're up to, because 
we’re going to find out anyhow.' But I didn't say 
anything; and the other man said to Doan, ‘ I reckon 
he’s dumb. What’s the good of wasting time on 
him.’ Then they walked off toward this river and 
headed into the woods; so I think they must have 
been watching to see which way I’d come. I climbed 
up on the ship and got a big towel and tied it to that 
tree on the point that stands out by itself. I thought 
you ought to know the men were here. I haven’t 
seen or heard anything more of them since.” 

“ Well, that fellow is certainly Old Mr. Sus- 
picion,” said Stephen. I wonder if he’s found the 
place where we were digging.” 

“If he has,” said Mr. Blossom, “ there’d be no 
use in following him up the stream and arguing with 
him about it, and if he hasn’t it would only make 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


him more suspicious if we went after him. I think 
we’d better pretend that we don’t care whether he 
and his friend come to the island or not.” 

“ That sounds sensible,” said Tom. Suppose 
we go back to the ship and see what they were doing.” 

A few things had been pulled out of place upon 
the ship, as if some one had been searching through 
them, but as Tom had Blackbeard’s map in his pocket, 
the two men couldn’t have found anything that 
would have furnished a clue. Their boat was drawn 
up on the sand on the other side of the ship. Mr. 
Blossom and the boys sat down on the after-deck to 
wait until the men returned. 

‘‘ I read a story once,” said Stephen, “ about a 
man who was sailing ’round Cape Horn, and he saw 
some savages coming out from the shore in canoes. 
He could keep away from them in the daytime, but 
he was afraid they might come on board at night, 
so he scattered tacks all over the deck of his boat. 
Then he was wakened in the night by the most 
awful yelling and screaming. The savages had come 
on board and walked on the tacks in their bare feet. 
They thought the boat was bewitched, and they 
jumped back into their canoes as fast as they could. 
That always seemed a mighty good plan to me, and 
I’ve always wanted to try it.” 

‘Hf you’re thinking of Peter Doan and his friend 
as the savages,” said Tom, ‘‘ the trouble is that they 
don’t go around in bare feet.” 



DOAN AND PARRY, WHO LOOKED AS IF HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A PIRATE 

HIMSELF, CAME ALONG THE SAND 



A WILD GOOSE CHASE 


87 


“ That’s just the trouble,” agreed Stephen. “ My, 
but wouldn’t I like to see them hopping about after 
they’d stepped on the tacks ! ” 

Here they come,” called out Mr. Blossom, who 
was sitting so that he could see up the beach. “ Now 
we’ll be as friendly as we can to them.” 

The red-faced Doan, and the tall, black-haired 
Parry, who looked as if he might have been a pirate 
himself, came along the sand right to the side of the 
ship. The rail of the after-deck hid the people on 
board from them. Then, at a gesture from Mr. Blos- 
som, he and the boys stood up and, looking over the 
edge of the deck, called out pleasantly, Good even- 
ing, Mr. Doan.” The two men jumped, and looked 
very much surprised at the ship’s crew. I hope 
you’ve had a pleasant afternoon on my island,” said 
Mr. Blossom. I like everybody to make themselves 
at home here. Did you have a pleasant walk ? ” 

No,” growled the dark-haired man. We got 
lost in the woods.” 

“ Too bad,” said Mr. Blossom, and he really 
looked so much interested in them that they couldn’t 
take offense. “ I’m sorry we’re running a little short 
of provisions, or we’d ask you to stay to supper. ” 

Doan took off his sailor cap, and rubbed his head 
with the palm of his hand. “ You’re mighty polite 
all of a sudden, it seems to me,” he said. “ Those 
young fellows didn’t want to have anything to do 
with me last night.” 


88 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


‘‘Ah, but they didn’t know what a fine fellow 
you were till I told them,” protested Mr. Blossom. 
“ I told them you were just the man who would 
keep an eye on them to see that they didn’t get into 
any trouble ; a sort of overseer, or night-watchman.” 
His blue eyes twinkled, but there was a note of 
sarcasm in his voice. 

“ What was that fellow doing with the shovel ? ” 
asked Parry, pointing his finger at Rodney. 

“ I suppose he was digging,” answered Mr. Blos- 
som. “ Perhaps he wants to take some of our Sea 
Island plants back north with him.” 

“ What was that queer-looking old map I seen 
them studying in Beaufort ? ” questioned Doan. “ It 
wasn’t like any other map I’ve seen of these parts.” 

“Well, all maps aren’t alike, you know,” said 
Mr. Blossom. “ That one might have been drawn 
by a man who wasn’t well acquainted with map- 
making.” 

“ It was,” asserted Tom, nodding his head. “ We 
found he didn’t get the places marked right at all.” 

The four on the ship looked so innocent, and 
their answers were so frank that it was hard to 
believe they were keeping a secret. Yet Doan didn’t 
look satisfied. He went on rubbing his head, and 
shaking it, and squinting his eyes at the ship in his 
suspicious way. 

“ There’s something up,” he said. “ You boys 
didn’t come way down here just to live on that boat. 


A WILD GOOSE CHASE 


89 


You could have found plenty of places just as good, 
and a whole sight nearer home.” He turned to his 
companion. “ I reckon there ain’t any use in sticking 
’round here any longer,” said he. 1 reckon we 
better be getting back to Beaufort.” 

“ I’m sorry we spoke as if we didn’t want you 
here yesterday,” said Tom. We don’t mind your 
coming any time you want to.” 

‘‘And bringing watermelons, too,” added Stephen. 

“ Yes, do come again,” urged Rodney, not to be 
outdone in politeness. 

Doan put on his cap, and Parry, who had been 
pulling his long black moustache, stuck his hands in 
his pockets and turned on his heel. “We may come 
again ; and then again we mayn’t,” said Doan. 

“ That’s right,” agreed Parry, looking back over 
his shoulder. “ We may come again, and then, per- 
haps, we mayn’t. It all depends.” A minute later 
they had launched their boat and were slipping away 
to the east. 

“ They may, and then again they mayn’t,” echoed 
Stephen. “A pretty pair they make. I think I like 
Whiskers better than the other fellow.” 

“ We’ve done the best we could to put them off 
their guard,” said Tom. “ I don’t believe they found 
the place where we were digging, after all.” He 
laughed at a new idea. “ It’s too bad we can’t scatter 
tacks all through the woods, Steve. That would be 
better than barbed wire.” 


90 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


They can’t say we weren’t friendly,” said Mr. 
Blossom. Now, if they do come again, and say 
they want to hunt for buried treasure, it’s your cue 
to pretend to help them all you can.” 

‘‘Yes, that’s so,” agreed Stephen. Then he 
added, “ But while we’re keeping friendly with them, 
I don’t see that we’re getting any nearer to finding 
the treasure ourselves.” 

“ You’re getting to be a perfect gloom, Steve,” 
said Rodney. “ We’re having a mighty good time, 
anyway.” 

“ You bet we are ! ” said Stephen, and he took a 
flying leap from the deck to the sand, and turned a 
few cart-wheels to show his sentiments. 

“ Mr. Blossom’s going to stay and have supper 
with us,” urged Tom, “ and then we’ll go over this 
little business again.” 

The invitation was very tempting. Rodney and 
Tom cooked the supper, and they ate it on the after- 
deck, sitting in a row on the side toward the sea, 
where the rail was broken, and they could swing their 
legs over the edge. 

Afterwards they tried to work out what possible 
mistake there might be in Blackbeard’s map; but, 
though they considered it from every angle, they 
couldn’t come to any new conclusion. 


VII 


OTHER HUNTERS 

The return to the scene of their labors next day 
brought no further enlightenment as to locating the 
treasure, if treasure there was. They dug their 
shovels down through the sandy soil in the hope that 
they might hit on some hidden box. They found not 
so much as a splinter of wood or scrap of metal. It 
seemed as if they might as well have been hunting in 
any other part of the island, so far as finding hidden 
treasure was concerned. 

When Tom looked at the map, however, he felt 
certain that this place on the bank of the stream that 
was marked with the red circle must have been the 
place that the maker of the map considered of chief 
importance. The arrows all pointed toward it. What 
would have been the use of a path through the woods 
if it did not lead to some important point? He 
couldn’t believe that the other crosses and marks were 
anything more than sign-posts on the road to the 
red circle, and yet if the circle really indicated a place 
on the bank of the northern shore of the stream, it 
seemed to stand for nothing, because they had 
searched that space thoroughly. 

He wouldn’t have hid it deeper down than that,” 
said Stephen, looking at the dug-out soil. 


91 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


‘‘ I don’t believe he ever hid anything at all,” 
announced Rodney, positively. That map is mys- 
terious, of course; but it’s perfectly clear that there 
isn’t anything for us to hunt for here.” 

That fact did seem very clear. So they presently 
shouldered their spades and marched back to the ship. 

“ I shouldn’t wonder if somebody made that map 
for a joke,” said Rodney, as he stretched out on the 
sand to rest after his hard work. 

Stephen was watching the white sail of a ship far 
out on the horizon. He scooped up a handful of 
sand and flung it at a wave that was coming up the 
beach. I don’t see why we shouldn’t have some 
of the same fun, too,” said he. If some one made 
that map for a joke, why shouldn’t we make 
another ? ” 

Rodney and Tom both looked at him as if they 
didn’t understand what he meant. “ Isn’t one joke- 
map enough ? ” asked Rodney. 

Don’t you see ! ” exclaimed Stephen. I meant 
to make another map of this island with other crosses 
and circles on it, and leave it where our friend Peter 
Doan will find it. Then we can have the fun of seeing 
him and that chum of his do a little digging them- 
selves.” 

“ Great idea ! ” said Rodney, sitting up and grin- 
ning like a Cheshire cat. 

Tom slapped his knee. I would like to see 
those two looking for a pot of gold where there 


OTHER HUNTERS 


93 


wasn't any ! ” he exclaimed. And besides it would 
keep them off our track." 

“ There’s some heavy brown paper that some of 
the things from Beaufort were wrapped it," said 
Rodney. I think we can make it look like that old 
pirate’s map." He boarded the ship, found the 
paper and some matches, and returned to the two on 
the beach. 

“ Here you are, Steve," said he. “You’re the 
best hand at drawing things." 

Tom took the original map from his inside pocket 
and stretched it out before them. Stephen tore off a 
piece of the wrapping-paper about the size of the 
map. Rodney lighted a match, and letting it burn 
a minute, blew it out and handed the stick to Stephen. 
“ That will make a good black line," said he, “ pretty 
much like the ones Blackbeard drew." 

In a short time, Stephen had scratched the out- 
line of the island with his charcoal pencil. He put 
in the rivers and marshes about as they were in the 
other drawing. He lettered his copy “ Teach’s 
Island." 

“ Now where shall we have the treasure hidden 
this time ? " he said, as he finished his work and 
looked at it admiringly. 

“ They saw Rodney coming out from the clearing 
with his shovel. It ought to be somewhere on the 
northern end," said Tom. “ We ought to mark the 


94 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


place somewhere up there. Why wouldn’t that 
little beach on the other side do ? It must be half-a- 
mile from the place where we’ve been looking, and 
yet it’s up in the same direction.” 

That’s a good place,” agreed Stephen. ‘‘ Now 
for something red to mark it with.” 

‘‘ Blood ! ” hissed Rodney, in a piratical manner. 

We ought to use a drop of the blood of one of our 
captives.” 

“ But who wants to be a captive ? ” asked Stephen. 

You suggested it, Rod; you can be the victim.” 

I’ve got a pencil in my pocket that writes red 
and blue,” said Tom. We can dip the red end in 
the water, and that will make it about the right 
color.” The pencil was found, was wet, and used to 
make the crosses along the line of the river on the 
west, and a big circle just back of the small beach in 
the northwest corner. 

“ I’m sure that looks like a treasure-map all 
right, all right,” announced Rodney, as he viewed 
the finished work. “If Peter Doan ever gets his 
eyes on that, he won’t stop running till he hits the 
beach.” 

“We might burn the edge of the paper to make 
it look more antique,” said Stephen. He did this; 
then folded the paper as Blackbeard’s map had been 
folded, and opened it out again. “ Now where shall 
we leave it, so he’ll be sure to find it the next time he 
comes ’round? ” 


OTHER HUNTERS 


95 


“ There’s only one place we’d be apt to leave it,” 
said Tom, “ and that’s on the ship.” He picked up 
some stones from the beach. “We can use these 
for paper-weights.” Soon the new map, held down 
at the corners by the small stones, lay on a plank in 
the cabin, as tempting a clue for a treasure-seeker 
as one could wish. 

It was all very well to make a map that would 
fool their rivals, but they had gotten no nearer toward 
reaching their own goal. There was small profit in 
working at the clearing any more, so they decided to 
take a holiday that afternoon and go on a tour of 
discovery in their row-boat. They pulled around 
their island, and through the waterways that wound 
in and out about the other islands. They landed at 
St. Helena and had a look at some of the cotton- 
fields, where negro families were working, though 
not so hard as to hurt themselves. They walked up 
to a store and bought a ripe watermelon ; then taking 
to their boat again they pulled on westward to Beau- 
fort, where they watched the lazy life on the water- 
front. By sunset they were rowing back again. 
There was no sign of Mr. Blossom as they pulled 
along his shore. One of his setters barked at them, 
and ran along the beach. Their own island looked 
as peaceful as ever. They beached their boat and 
carried the watermelon on board the ship. 

Stephen was the first to step down into the cabin. 
He gave a yell of delight. “ It’s gone, it’s gone ! ” he 


96 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


cried, and pointed to the place where the new map 
had been. 

‘‘Sure enough !’’ said Tom. “The fish have 
bitten ! I hope they enjoy themselves ! ’’ 

The stones were still there, but the map had 
vanished, and it had been in such a place that the 
wind couldn’t have blown it away. Undoubtedly 
somebody had stolen it. They had a feast that night, 
topped off by the watermelon; then they discussed 
again any possible mistake they might have made in 
their own search. They found nothing wrong with 
it, however, and went to bed, as far from getting a 
new clue as they had been the night before. 

Stephen had no idea whether he had just fallen 
asleep, or had been asleep for some time, when he 
woke up. He lay staring at the starlit sky outside 
their canvas shelter. The night was very still, and 
as he lay there listening to the lapping waves he 
thought he caught the chug of a motor somewhere 
in the distance. Listening very intently, he felt cer- 
tain that he heard it somewhere to the north. He 
got up, and going to the stern of the ship, listened 
again. Yes, there was a motor breaking the perfect 
silence of the night. 

The moon had not yet risen, but the stars gave 
considerable light. He found his watch; the hand 
stood at half-past twelve. What would a motor- 
boat be doing around the island at that hour ? As he 
looked in under the tent, Rodney woke. 


OTHER HUNTERS 


97 


‘‘ Come out here/’ whispered Stephen. A minute 
later Rodney and Tom had joined him on the deck. 

“ Listen ! ” said Stephen. The two other boys 
caught the sound of a motor, and nodded. 

Let’s go see,” said Rodney. 

In a trice the boys had slipped into their clothes, 
and, crossing the beach, were stealing along among 
the trees. 

The woods were dark, but the shine of the stars 
on the water helped them to find their way toward 
the mouth of the stream. Reaching there, they 
turned to the west. Now there was so little light 
that they had to feel their way very carefully. Every 
once in a while one of the three, stepping too near 
the bank, would slip, and have to catch at some bush 
to keep from falling into the water. They were all 
pretty good woodsmen, however, and they felt their 
way along with hands and feet, making almost no 
noise. Occasionally they would stop and listen. The 
noise of the motor-boat had ceased. They knew, 
however, the point where they had last heard it. 

One of their stops was made opposite the cleared 
space where they had dug for the last two days. 
They could just make out the place in the dim light 
that came through the tree-tops. As they stood listen- 
ing for any distant noise, they caught the hoot of 
an owl way off toward the mainland. It seemed as 
if it were the voice of Blackbeard, or one of his 
crew, hooting at their failure to find his treasure. 

7 


98 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


They had not explored the country beyond the 
clearing, so here they went more slowly, Tom in the 
lead. The stream ran to the northwest, and pres- 
ently seemed to flow into marshy land. Their foot- 
steps began to sink in wet soil, and the first thing 
Tom knew he had sunk over his ankles in* a bog. 

“ Give me your hand ! he muttered to Rodney. 
‘‘ Look out ! Don’t come any farther ! ” Rodney, 
catching Tom’s hands, gave a pull and jerked his 
brother to firmer ground. “ We’d better look out for 
the marshes,” Tom whispered. Feel your way 
carefully before each step.” 

To the north they could catch the light on the 
water again, and knew that they must be opposite 
the point of the island. Stepping carefully, and 
making sure of firm ground, Tom led the way back 
to the woods, and after fifteen minutes he came to 
the edge of the trees and stopped. 

This wooded bank stood fairly high above a long 
sloping beach, bounded at either end by marshes. 
The stars cast a dim silvery light over the water 
and the sand. There was a noise to Tom’s left. It 
sounded like shovels digging into the sandy soil. 
Very cautiously the boys crept in the direction of the 
noise, and, when they had come as near as they dared, 
crouched down behind some bushes. Peering through 
them, they saw two men digging in the bank at the 
edge of the beach. A withered pine stood just 
beyond the place where they were digging. 


OTHER HUNTERS 


99 


As their eyes grew accustomed to the half-light, 
the boys could make out the figures of the men. 
One was tall and angular, the other considerably 
shorter, and rather clumsy in his movements. They 
made an odd appearance, digging silently in this 
deserted place in the middle of the night. The boys 
had no doubt as to who the two men were ; one must 
be the piratical-looking Sam Parry, the other the 
seafaring Doan. At the place where the beach met 
the marshes the dim outline of a boat could be seen. 

The two men worked for perhaps ten minutes, 
when the shorter one threw down his shovel and 
swore long and loudly. It seemed that he considered 
this the hardest job he had ever tackled. After a 
minute Parry also stopped work, and began to argue 
with Doan. Only an occasional word reached the 
listening boys. 

‘‘ Shall we give them a scare ? ” whispered 
Stephen. “We’ll make them think that we are 
Blackbeard’s ghost, protecting* the hiding-place.” 

“And get shot for it,” muttered Rodney. “ I 
don’t think we’d better play any tricks on them.” 

“ Nor I,” agreed Tom. “ Let them go on dig- 
ging; it’ll do them good.” 

After a few minutes’ rest Parry and Doan did 
go on digging. Then the boys saw Doan take a 
paper from his pocket and study it carefully. It 
must have been the map he had found on the ship. 
When he put it away he picked up his shovel again. 


100 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


That seemed to show he was satisfied they had hit 
on the right place. 

It looked as if the men intended to dig all night, 
and after a time the boys got up from their crouching 
positions and stole again through the woods. Not 
until they had reached their own beach, on the other 
side of the island, did they begin to talk. 

** Well,” said Stephen, “ I guess that will keep 
those fellows busy for some time. WeVe put a bee 
in Doan’s bonnet. He’s like a dog with a bone; 
he’ll keep coming back to see if it’s hidden there.” 

‘‘ I hope it keeps them busy on their own side,” 
said Rodney, so they won’t come ’round our ship 
any more.” 

Don't worry about them,” said Stephen, 
‘‘ they’ll be more afraid now that we’ll follow them 
up to see what’s become of our map.” 

‘‘ That was a pretty clever thought of yours, 
Steve,” admitted Rodney. 

Oh, I’m good at that sort of thing,” said 
Stephen. I can almost always throw other people 
off the scent.” 

‘‘ Pretty proud of yourself, aren’t you ? ” said 
Tom, laughing. 

‘‘ Well, I reckon all good schemes aren’t made 
up North.” Stephen skipped a stone out over the 
bank. This old island hasn’t had so much excite- 
ment in a hundred years! Think of two search- 
parties hunting for its treasure ! ” 


VIII 


TOM WORKS OUT A NEW IDEA 

Mr. Blossom's colored man, Joe, was sitting on 
a bench in front of his cabin opening oysters, and 
Tom was sitting opposite him, throwing an old rubber 
ball for the dogs to chase. A couple of pickaninnies 
were playing with a puppy that every once in a while 
sent them rolling over with a push of its paw. The 
pigs, for once caught in their own picketed yard, 
were grunting and rooting about. 

Joe was telling Tom how he had been born and 
brought up at Beaufort, and how he had worked in 
the cotton-fields on the islands till Mr. Blossom had 
picked him out to take care of his place. 

“ There ain’t much money in cotton,” he declared. 

Sometimes we get too much sun ; sometimes too 
much rain; then along comes a storm and washes 
up over the farms and spoils all the cotton. I’ve 
seen this here country look just like a lake, with only 
the highest bits of ground sticking up here and there ; 
and the sea keeps making in all the time. There’s 
places north of here where it’s nibbled away at the 
land and swallowed it up; there’s reefs out there 
that used to be islands once.” 

I think I’ve seen pictures of the coast where 
there was good land, and now it’s sea-flats,” said Tom. 

‘‘ Sure you have,” agreed Joe, chucking an oyster 

101 


102 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


shell down toward the water. “ That there ocean 
keeps on changing the look of things all the time; it 
keeps the sand moving back and back.’^ 

'' It might make things look very different, even 
in two hundred years asked Tom. He stood up 
and flung the rubber ball as far as he could, and the 
three dogs went scampering after it. I’m going 
for a walk up the beach. Perhaps I’ll find Mr. Blos- 
som in his duck-boat.” 

He walked along by the tall palmettoes that never 
ceased to interest the boy from the North. Most 
trees look somewhat alike, but these that shot up 
straight, then burst out in great bushes of leaves, 
were very odd and fascinating. When he came to 
the woods he picked up a stick with a crooked end, 
and began to pull down the gray moss where he could 
reach it. It always seemed to him that the trees 
would grow much better without this parasite, 
although Stephen had told him that the seeds of the 
moss were constantly blowing through the air, and 
that if the branches were freed from the moss it 
would grow over them again in a very short time. 

All the time he was thinking of a new idea that 
had come to him from his chat with Joe. The idea 
was that perhaps the ocean had changed the geog- 
raphy of the islands since Blackbeard’s days. He 
came to the beach again, and saw Mr. Blossom pad- 
dling along in his small canvas-covered duck-boat. 

“ Hello, my bold adventurer ! ” cried Mr. Bios- 


TOM WORKS OUT A NEW IDEA 103 


som, and ran his boat to the shore. ‘‘ How goes it? ” 
stepping out and pulling the boat up after him. 

“ It doesn’t go at all,” Tom answered. '' We’ve 
dug and dug, and we haven’t found anything.” 

“ That’s too bad,” said Mr. Blossom. “ If I’d 
only known you were coming, I might have hidden 
something for you to find.” 

I’ve been talking with Joe,” went on Tom, 
“ and he says the water keeps changing the line of 
the shore. Is that so? ” 

Mr. Blossom nodded. “ There are places where 
it’s made a lot of change,” he said. “ I’ve seen 
whole meadows sunk under the sea north of here.” 

Tom wasn’t yet ready to share his new idea with 
Mr. Blossom. There might be nothing in it, and he 
wanted to consider it by himself a little longer, so 
he changed the subject by telling of the trick they 
had played on Doan and Parry, and how they had 
found the two men hunting the night before. 

Mr. Blossom laughed. Pretty clever of Steve! ” 
he said. “ Those two chaps will probably work 
harder trying to find something they don’t deserve 
than at all the honest jobs they’ve ever had. It’s 
too bad we can’t set all lazy folks to hunting for 
pots of gold at the end of the rainbow.” 

That sounds as if you didn’t believe there was 
anything real to hunt for,” Tom protested. 

The big man shrugged his shoulders. Oh, no, 
I think there’s lots to hunt for ; but I think you get 


104 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


plenty of satisfaction just out of the hunting. We’re 
getting in pretty deep now, aren’t we ? ” he asked. 
‘‘ Come up through the woods, and I’ll show you a 
small truck-patch I’ve just planted.” 

Tom stayed to dinner with Mr. Blossom. “ I 
don’t think this weather is going to hold much 
longer,” said his host, as they came out on the porch 
after dinner. The wind’s been shifting ’round to 
the east, and those little long white clouds you see 
coming up from the ocean generally mean a storm. 
The equinoctial gale’s about due. If the weather 
gets too rough for you in * The Jolly Roger,’ run 
over here and share my humble roof.” 

‘‘ It looks calm enough ’round here now,” said 
Tom, looking at the islands, shining in the sun, and 
the water, scarcely rippled by a breeze. 

It often looks that way before a storm,” said 
Mr. Blossom. “ Some people are like that, too ; 
calm and quiet until all of a sudden they break out 
in a rage. I’ve seen that happen down here more 
than once. When you see the white-caps begin to 
break on that long sand-bar out yonder, make your 
rigging snug and take in sail.” 

“ That won’t be hard to do on our ship,” said 
Tom. ‘‘ There are some good things about having a 
boat that’s lost as much sail and wood as ours has. 
But I’d better be getting back, or Steve may have 
thought up new tricks to fool the enemy.” 

‘‘A smart fellow, Stephen,” said Henry Blossom, 


TOM WORKS OUT A NEW IDEA 105 


and a quick thinker in a pinch, I should judge.” 

Tom himself seemed to be doing a good deal of 
thinking, though perhaps not of the quick kind, as 
he rowed across to his own shore. Every few 
minutes he would rest his elbows on the oars and 
let the boat drift, while his gray eyes looked out to 
sea, as if he were pondering some important matter. 

When he reached the island, he found the others 
lying on the soft moss under a palmetto. They sat up 
at sound of his boat’s keel grating on the beach. 

“ See the kind gentleman come to rescue the two 
shipwrecked mariners ! ” exclaimed Stephen. I 
hope he’s brought plenty of food in his locker.” 

“ Haven’t you had any dinner? ” Tom asked. 

Oh, yes,” said Rodney, but Steve’s eaten all 
the cake and jam, and thinks we ought to go over to 
Beaufort for more.” 

What I really wanted to go to Beaufort for 
was to buy something to hide in the sand for our two 
friends to find,” said Stephen. “ We went over to 
the little beach this morning, Tom, and when we 
found the men weren’t there, we took a look at 
their diggings. You ought to have seen the place; 
I’ll bet they dug harder there last night than we did 
up the stream.” 

Rodney chuckled. “You’d have thought they 
were trying to tunnel through to China,” said he. 
“Well, what’s old Mr. Wiseman thinking about?” 

Tom had apparently fallen into another brown 


106 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


study, unheeding what was said. He was looking 
hard at the mossy turf, pushing the toe of his shoe 
into it. “Nothing,” he said; “just considering.” 

Later that afternoon, however, he walked up to 
the mouth of the stream, and took a good look at 
the shelving banks there. He went as far inland 
as the marked sapling, and resumed his study of soil 
and shore. The stream headed northwest and the 
tides reached all the way up its length. The con- 
stant ebb and flow of water had made little over- 
hanging cliffs along the bank. He went up to the 
northern point of the island and studied the shore- 
line there. Then, still pondering some problem, he 
returned to the ship. 

The other two had gone somewhere in the row- 
boat. Tom cut a branch from a tree and began to 
whittle it. Everyone has his own way of thinking 
out matters, and whittling a stick is one of the most 
popular ways. With the sharpened point of the 
stick he drew lines in the sand. He was staring 
at this map when Rodney and Stephen came back. 
“ What’s the matter, old scout ? ” demanded Stephen. 
“ You’re as thoughtful as a clam.” 

“And he tells about as much,” put in Rodney. 
“ What is it, Tom? Have you invented a new way 
of finding that red circle? ” 

Stephen slapped his hand on his leg. “ I have 
it ! ” he cried. “ I’ve heard they used to use witch- 
hazel sticks to tell them where gold was hidden in 


TOM WORKS OUT A NEW IDEA 107 


the ground. I think they called them divining-rods ; 
Tom's got one of those sticks, and he's going to see 
if it will tell him where to look. Let us know when 
you reach the right place." 

‘‘ Sit down, you two," commanded Tom. ‘‘ IVe 
got an idea, and I’ll tell you about it." 

Seeing he was in earnest, they did as he told them. 

Now, I believe," said Tom, that this island is 
different to-day from what it was when Blackbeard 
came here. I found out that the ocean's worked its 
way in along the shore, and covered a good deal of 
land that used to be high and dry. Of course, that 
takes a long time, and I don’t suppose the water's 
made much advance over this beach where we're 
sitting, but I do think it might have made a big 
change in the rivers and marshes. Take the little 
stream where we’ve been hunting; the tides come in 
there all the time, and they wash against the bank 
where it bends westward. The soil's sandy and 
slippery. Every once in a while they have a big 
storm down here, and then the waves wash up over 
the bank, and sometimes make new channels. Maybe 
that stream was only a little trickle of water when 
Blackbeard was here. Tides and storms might have 
dashed up it and worn down the banks so that where 
there was dry ground then, there's a stream now.” 

That sounds sensible," said Rodney. 

“Did you work that all out yourself?" asked 
Stephen, looking with great admiration at his cousin. 


108 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Tom was as silent as a china mandarin. He was 
twisting his pet lock of hair Tound and Tound, as 
if to stir his thoughts. 

'' li the waves have done that, then the red circle 
marked on the northern shore of the little stream 
might mean a place that’s under the water now.” 

“ I see,” exclaimed Stephen, very much excited. 
‘‘ I shouldn’t wonder at all.” 

“ You certainly have got a great head, Tom,” 
declared Rodney. “ I don’t believe I’d ever have 
thought of that.” 

Tom tried to look modest; but it was clear that 
he felt he had made a great discovery. 

“I may be wrong,” said he; '‘but at least it’s 
what engineers call a working theory.” 

" Hope it works out ! ” said Stephen. " Let’s 
get supper, and then go up in the woods, and have 
another look at the place.” 

More clouds were gathering in the sky as the 
boys cooked supper. The air was growing colder, 
too, as the wind came out of the east. 

" Mr. Blossom thinks we may get a storm,” Tom 
told them. " We might move down into the cabin 
to-night, if the wind blows any harder.” 

Supper finished, they were about to start out for 
the woods, when the sound of a motor-boat caught 
their ears. 

" Doan’s on the job again,” said Stephen. " Per- 
haps he suspects how we tricked him, and is looking 


TOM WORKS OUT A NEW IDEA 109 


’round to see what we’re up to. I don’t believe we’d 
better go up there to-night. It’s easier to keep an 
eye out for spies in the daytime.” 

They could see the boat some distance out on the 
water. It did look like a patrol that was keeping 
watch on their movements. With Tom’s new plan 
in mind they were particularly anxious not to let 
the two men know where they were hunting, and so 
they agreed to postpone their new search until 
morning. 

As the sun went down the wind rose, and the air 
grew very chilly. 

The old ship’s a lot better to-night than our tent 
on the beach,” said Rodney, as they carried their 
blankets down into the cabin. I don’t care how 
much it blows out here ; it can’t shake this good old 
craft!” 

But, though there were no spars to creak, no 
sails or rigging to flap against the mast, the old boat 
groaned as the rising wind beat on its sides. The 
wind whistled in the tops of the trees and sent the 
waves breaking more and more loudly on the beach. 

Glad we’re not out at sea to-night ! ” said 
Stephen, as he pulled his blankets up about his ears. 
A wave slapped loudly against the hull. ‘'This 
ship’s weathered many a worse storm than this,” 
he added. 

The storm rose and roared, driving bigger and 
bigger breakers against the little island. 


IX 


THE BED OF THE STREAM 

The weather was much colder by morning. The 
wind was still blowing from the east, and the whfte- 
caps came racing along the shore and even sent their 
spray dashing over the deck of the ship. One didn’t 
have to be a weather-prophet to see that the storm 
was growing in power. The boys put on their 
warmest clothes, and ate breakfast in the shelter of 
the cabin. 

I think we’d better carry the shovels up to the 
clearing,” said Tom, when they had finished. It 
would be pretty hard to row the boat along the beach 
in the teeth of this gale.” 

With coats buttoned up to the chin, and hats 
pulled tight down on their heads, the three took their 
way up the shore. 

Did you ever see water look so white ? ” said 
Rodney, pointing out to the line of waves that were 
breaking on a reef half a mile away. 

I reckon it’s the equinoctial storm,” said 
Stephen. ‘‘We get them at Charleston every year 
or two, and sometimes they’re terrible big storms. 
They blow the roofs off houses, and do a lot of 
damage along the water front.” 

110 


THE BED OF THE STREAM 


111 


“ They couldn’t blow this island away, anyhow,” 
said Tom. Listen to the wind whistling through 
the tops of the palmettoes ! ” 

As they reached the northern end of the beach, 
they saw a great white crane rise from the marshes 
ahead and sail squawking off to the west. Beyond 
lay water that was a dull slate-gray. 

^^Anyhow this ought to keep Peter Doan and his 
friend in Beaufort,” suggested Stephen. ‘‘ There’s 
some comfort in that.” 

I thought I heard a motor-boat a minute ago,” 
said Rodney. “ I couldn’t be sure, but something 
sounded like it off there.” He pointed to the north- 
west 

‘‘ You couldn’t hear a motor-boat in a wind like 
this,” Stephen said scornfully. It was probably 
the waves driving over the pebbles.” 

In the woods the wind was not so high, but for 
some little distance the waves came splashing up 
the stream. A bend in the river checked them, and as 
the boys went further inland they found the water 
as quiet as usual. At last they reached the clear- 
ing and dropped their shovels. Tom took the map 
from his pocket and studied it carefully. 

If my figuring is right,” said he, “ that circle 
must be a little to the north of the centre of the 
stream; that would allow for the cutting down of 
the bank a couple of feet.” 

It’s lucky the water isn’t very deep here,” said 


112 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Rodney. It can’t be more than a couple of feet.” 

“ I hope it isn’t cold,” said Stephen. 

“ Why don’t we shovel through that dike we 
made to keep the stream out of our other digging? ” 
suggested Tom. That’ll make it much easier.” 

“ Good idea,” said Rodney, and forthwith started 
to shovel away at the bank they had built between 
their former digging and the stream. 

Once, as they worked, Tom stopped and listened. 
He thought he had heard some noise off to the west. 
He looked through the trees, but saw no cause for 
the noise. 

I shouldn’t think Doan would be prowling 
’round here now,” he said to Stephen. 

He wouldn’t come out on a day like this,” 
answered the other boy. 

When the dike was cut away, some of the water 
from the stream ran over the clearing. The water 
was cold and soaked through the boys’ woollen 
stockings and heavy shoes, but that was a minor 
matter. Wading into the stream, they began to dig 
at the place Tom pointed out. This was hard work, 
for the shovelling must be done under water, and 
the sand was apt to slide back almost as fast as 
they threw it out. 

After half an hour’s work they stopped to rest. 
They could hear the wind high up in the tree-tops. 
Each of the boys looked ’round the clearing, as if 
to make sure that no prying eyes were watching 


THE BED OF THE STREAM 113 

them. When they started again, they worked harder 
than ever, and then Rodney’s shovel struck on some- 
thing hard. 

Look here ! ” he said. ‘‘ I struck something 
hard, fellows ! It may be only a rock.” He pulled 
up his shovel, and drove it down again into the 
same place. This time there was a scraping noise, as 
if the shovel were rubbing against some metal. He 
dug again and again, and the other two stuck their 
shovels in at the same place. 

Splashing sand and water up on the bank, they 
finally uncovered what looked like a flat sheet of 
iron, some three feet long by two feet wide. They 
stared at it in amazement. 

For the love of Mike ! ” said Rodney. “ That 
must be the old chest ! ” 

‘‘I shouldn’t wonder!” agreed Tom, trying to 
keep a note of excitement out of his voice. 

Stephen made no such attempt. He pulled off 
his hat and flung it in the air. 

Hurrah ! ” he cried. “ Hurrah ! Hurrah ! ” 

‘‘ Not so loud ! ” warned Rodney. Some of 
the cranes and eagles in the woods might hear ! ” 

‘‘ Come along, or the sand’ll have sifted back 
again,” said Tom ; and the three plunged in with their 
shovels, digging down at the side of the piece of 
metal. 

A few minutes’ work showed that they had un- 
doubtedly come upon an old iron box. They dug 

8 


114 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


the sand from each side till they came to the bottom 
of the box; then Tom reached down and tried to 
get his fingers under one corner. 

“ Whew, but it’s heavy ! ” he muttered. “ We’ll 
have to dig away some more of the sand before we 
can get it out.” 

What was that noise ? ” Stephen asked ab- 
ruptly. ‘‘ I thought I heard something in the woods 
there!” 

They all listened, but there was only the whistle 
of the wind above their heads. 

Rodney dug his shovel in and made a little trench 
around the bottom of the box. 

‘‘ Now,” he said, “ let’s all get our hands 
under it.” 

Throwing down their shovels, the three boys bent 
over and clutched at the bottom. 

They pulled and pulled, but the box was heavy, 
and the sand did not want to let it go. 

“ I’ve got an idea,” said Tom. “ Let’s take one 
of the shovels and use it as a lever.” A shovel was 
wedged in under the chest, and all three pushed on 
the handle; they shoved the shovel in farther, so that 
it lifted the box an inch or two out of the sand. 

Now try the same thing with the others,” said 
Stephen. In a few minutes the three shovels were 
under the box, and it was loosed from the shifting 
soil. Standing up, they looked at the rusty iron chest. 

“ Think of its having been there so long, and we 


THE BED OF THE STREAM 115 

finding it ! ” exclaimed Rodney. I wonder what’s 
inside? ” 

‘‘ Pieces-of-eight ! ” muttered Stephen, in an 
awed voice. I tell you what! Tom had a great 
head to think out where we’d find it ! ” 

Rodney caught the nearer edge of the box and 
tried to pull it up. He was strong, and managed to 
tilt it so that he could press his knee against it, and 
hold it several inches above its bed. Tom and 
Stephen joined him, and together they swung the 
heavy metal chest up until it rested on one end. 
heave together now I ” said Stephen. 

The three bent and pushed, and the box went 
tumbling over like a trunk. 

Again they had to use their shovels to pry it up, 
and again they had to heave and push, but presently 
they had rolled it end over end out of the stream 
and into the cleared space that was a little higher 
than the water. Panting with their efforts, they 
stopped and stared at the treasure. The box was 
very rusty, and had four heavy hinges at the back of 
the lid, and a great lock in front. Tom gave a pull 
at the cover; it didn’t budge. 

“ We’ll have to have an axe to break the lock,” 
said he. 

The other two boys quickly saw that Tom was 
right. Not only did the lock hold, but the metal 
edge of the cover had been so compressed against 
the sides of the box that even without the lock it 


116 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


would probably have been impossible to get the cover 
off without the aid of a stout hammer or hatchet. 

“ I reckon it’s safe enough to leave it here for a 
few minutes,” said Stephen. 

We don’t want to take any chances,” protested 
Rodney. I’ll stay here, while you other two go 
for the tools.” 

The precaution seemed hardly necessary, but 
trees and bushes grew pretty close to the clearing, 
and the gray moss shut out most of the light from 
the sky, so that it would have been possible for spies 
to have crept close to the place without being seen. 

Wet up to their hips from their work in the 
stream, Tom and Stephen didn’t hesitate to wade 
back across the brook. Then they followed the trail 
along the opposite bank. As they went along they 
realized that the sky must have been growing more 
and more stormy, judging from the little light that 
came through the woods. The wind also seemed to 
have increased; and when they rounded the bend 
in the river they were surprised at the angry waves 
that came slapping up against the shore. 

When they came out of the woods and stood on 
the low cliff above the beach, they were amazed at 
the sight of sea and sky. The ocean was a dull lead 
color, with long lines of pure white where breakers 
were rolling over sandy bars. Great black clouds 
hung in the sky, giving a weird and terrifying look 
to the scene. The wind was blowing a gale, snapping 


THE BED OF THE STREAM 


117 


the boughs of trees like bow-strings; waves dashed 
up the beach, sending sheets of foam where they 
struck against the banks. Looking down to the 
south, the boys saw a cascade of water dashing above 
the ship. 

Whew ! ” whistled Tom. This is a storm all 
right ! I never saw anything look as wicked as that 
sea!’’ 

“ Nor I,” agreed Stephen, and I’ve seen some 
pretty fierce looking storms, too. It’s just the time 
of year when we get our biggest blows.” 

Down the shore came Henry Blossom’s motor- 
boat, tossed about by waves and wet from stem to 
stern by blinding spray. The owner, in yellow oil- 
skins, was at the wheel. He headed his boat for the 
mouth of the stream, and managed to bring it up to 
the bank where the boys stood. 

‘‘ Glad I got here in time ! ” he shouted, for the 
wind was so high that he had to shout to be heard. 
''A little longer and I don’t know whether a boat 
could have gotten across to the island 1 ” 

We’ve found the treasure!” yelled Stephen. 
The boys rushed to the bank, and shouted their news 
at Mr. Blossom. We found it in the river! Tom 
worked it out ! ” called Stephen. 

It’s got a lock, and its cover is battered on 
tight! ” said Tom. “ We’ll have to get a hatchet to 
get the cover off.” 

‘‘ Bully for you ! ” answered Mr. Blossom. 


118 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


That’s fine work to find old Blackbeard’s treasure ! 
But we oughtn’t to wait here now. It’s safe where 
it is, and there’s no knowing what this storm is going 
to do. I shouldn’t be surprised if we had a tidal 
wave; I’ve seen them down here before.” 

But we can’t leave the chest,” protested 
Stephen, now we’ve just found it.” 

Could we get it on board my boat ? ” asked 
Mr. Blossom. 

Tom shook his head. 

Without poles or ropes, it would take a half 
hour’s work to get it here,” said he. ‘‘ Come up in 
the woods while we show it to you.” 

We oughtn’t to lose any time,” protested Mr. 
Blossom. “ I don’t like the looks of the sea one bit; 
and I’d rather get you over to my island. You might 
get cut off here and run out of food before the storm’s 
ended, or the waves might come right up over all this 
land.” 

Just take a look at it,” urged Stephen. 

You get into my boat and keep it from banging 
against the bank,” said Mr. Blossom to Tom, and 
I’ll take a look at the treasure-chest, and see what 
we’d better do with it.” 

Tom got into the boat and picked up the pole to 
fend it off from the bank. Mr. Blossom ran up 
through the woods with Stephen. They found Rod- 
ney trying to pry up a corner of the cover with a 
sharp stone. 


THE BED OF THE STREAM 


119 


** By George ! Mr. Blossom exclaimed, when he 
saw the rusty iron box. It looks the part all right ! 
Just the thing a pirate would have picked out to hide 
his gold in ! ’’ He examined the cover closely. 
‘‘ You're right about getting that off. It’ll take some 
work with a hammer and chisel after you break the 
lock. It’s safe enough here though, because no one 
knows about it; and even if the sea should come up 
over the island, it couldn’t wash that box away. It’s 
much too heavy for the waves to move it. Even if 
they did, the trees would keep it from being carried 
far. It’s weathered a good many storms since it’s 
been in the stream, and it can surely weather another 
now. Leave it here till the storm’s over ; then we’ll 
come back and see what’s inside.” 

‘‘ How about getting it down to your boat ? ” sug- 
gested Stephen, still a little uneasy about abandoning 
the treasure, now it was found. 

Mr. Blossom tugged at the box. 

‘‘ Too heavy,” he said. It would take half a 
day to get that down to the shore. We’d have to get 
some poles and roll it over and over. There’s a 
couple of good stout oaks,” he added, pointing to the 
edge of the clearing; we might be able to roll it 
over there and wedge it between those trees; that 
would hold it fast all right.” 

Quickly cutting three strong saplings, they man- 
aged to roll and push the chest over to the trees and 
get it in between them. 


120 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


‘‘ That’s the best we can do now,” Mr. Blossom 
declared, and I don’t want to run the risk of waiting 
here a minute longer.” 

The three ran down-stream to the motor-boat. 
If anything, the storm seemed to have increased. 

Could we run along to the ship, and get what’s 
there ? ” asked Stephen. 

Mr. Blossom shook his head. ‘‘ I wouldn’t want 
to risk it,” said he. “ We’d have to run side-on to 
the wind, and it would be a mighty bad place to 
land. Never mind what you’ve got there; I can fit 
you out at my place. Jump in quick ! ” He took his 
place at the wheel ; the boys followed into the boat ; 
and the motor backed them down-stream into the 
curling breakers. 

It was an exciting moment when the skipper 
swung the boat’s bow ’round and out to sea. They 
might have been swamped then and there had not 
Mr. Blossom been a very expert helmsman. As it 
was, they just made it, and the bow headed straight 
into the foaming breakers. Splashing and dipping 
like a cockle-shell, the motor-boat rode through the 
surf. It headed to the north. By skilful navigating 
the skipper brought it beyond the point of the island. 
The boys, looking out at the sea, saw swells in the 
distance that looked almost as high as hills. 

Swinging now this way, now that, yet held to a 
fairly straight course by Mr. Blossom’s clever hand, 
the boat made its way to his island. To the lee of 


THE BED OF THE STREAM 


1^1 


his point of land there was a stretch of somewhat 
quieter water, though even here the swells were fairly 
high. Joe was down on the dock, and caught the 
boat’s bow with a boat-hook. Captain and pas- 
sengers climbed out. 

“ You’ll have to lash it fast, Joe,” directed Mr. 
Blossom. I don’t want it to go smash against the 
shore.” 

The four headed up to the house. The scene 
from the porch was wonderful. Clouds and ocean 
were now a marvelous grayish-white. The hills of 
water looked so high that it seemed as if they must 
swallow up any land they touched. 

‘‘ It’s going to be hard for the cotton crop. I’m 
afraid,” said Mr. Blossom, and for the farms, too ! 
A storm like that will wash many shanties away.” 
He looked at the boys. “ Why, you’re shivering ! I 
don’t wonder ; it is getting mighty cold, and you’re 
all soaking wet.” 

For the first time the three adventurers noticed 
that every stitch of clothing they had on was soaked 
through. 

“ Come inside while I get you dry things, and 
some oilskin suits. You’re going to need them, for 
unless I’m much mistaken there’ll be plenty of work 
for us to do in our boat before this gale’s over.” 

They were glad to get inside, to stand in front 
of the roaring wood-fire and dry out, to get into 
warm clothes and tarpaulins. 


122 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


As they stood in front of the blaze, Joe and his 
wife and youngsters came running into the house. 

Mighty big waves cornin’, Marse Henry ! ” said 

Joe. 

Mr. Blossom glanced through the window. ‘‘A 
tidal wave somewhere up the coast ! ” he muttered. 
‘‘ This is the highest point ’round here. We’d better 
get the dogs and all the live-stock up here as quickly 
as we can ! ” 

They went to work with a will, getting all the 
animals into a place of safety. They were none too 
soon, for scarcely had the last dog been pulled into 
the house than a great swell of water came flooding 
over the beach and lower shore, sweeping away 
fences and bushes in its mighty course. 


X 

THE GREAT STORM 


For some time Henry Blossom’s house re- 
sembled Noah’s Ark in more ways than one. Not 
only were all the people on his island gathered in his 
cottage, but so were the dogs, pigs, chickens, and the 
goat that Joe had had great difficulty in persuading 
to come aboard. In a short time the house was in 
the midst of swirling water. The tidal wave had 
swept right up to the porch, demolishing fences, 
taking the roof off Joe’s small cabin, and littering the 
island with wreckage. For a few minutes it seemed 
a question whether Mr. Blossom’s house itself might 
not be swept away, so great was the force of the 
flood, and so high the water’s climb. But the house 
was strongly built, and kept its foothold. All around 
it, however, was a waste of water, as far as eye 
could see. 

For half an hour the storm beat in fury at this 
solitary outpost; timbers creaked and strained at 
their fastenings; then the gale seemed to lessen a 
little. The sky grew much lighter, and the heights 
of water flattened out. Presently Mr. Blossom, the 
three boys, and Joe ventured out on the front porch. 
The beach was under water, and so was the front 
lawn. Luckily, the boats that had been moored at 

the dock were still afloat. 

123 


1£4 


BLACKBEAKD’S ISLAND 


That was a real storm ! ” declared Mr. Blossom, 
looking around at what had been his island, but was 
now chiefly ocean. I’m afraid things have gone 
badly with some of the Sea-Islanders.” 

“ There’s some of our island left,” put in Tom, 
pointing to where the trees stood up out of the flood 
on the distant strip of land. 

Yes, and there are the other islands,” agreed 
Mr. Blossom, looking to the south ; but what’s be- 
come of the little farms on the lowlands ? ” 

Joe gave a grunt. I reckon most of the folks 
saw what was coming, and got up on the high 
ground,” he said. ‘‘ Cotton crop may be done for, 
but I reckon the niggers are safe.” 

I hope so,” said Mr. Blossom. “ When the 
waves go down, we’ll put out in a boat and see.” 

They all went into the living-room, where Joe’s 
wife supplied them with hot coffee and sandwiches. 
The wind was dropping fast, and before long the 
temptation to explore grew irresistible. The water 
had lowered somewhat, and Mr. Blossom decided he 
might safely venture down to the boats. He had on 
high rubber boots, and in these he waded over his 
lawn to the wharf, now several feet under water, 
and began baling out the motor-boat with a bucket 
brought from the house. 

Half an hour later he brought the boat up to the 
front porch, and the boys, now clad in tarpaulins, 
climbed in beside him. 


THE GREAT STORM 


125 

'*See if you can get hold of any of the other boats, 
Joe,” said Mr. Blossom, “ while we go out and see 
what’s happened.” 

Over the water they went, just as the coming of 
night darkened the sky. There was sufficient light, 
however, for them to see some of the results of the 
tidal wave. The bridge that joined Mr. Blossom’s 
island and the next one had been blown to pieces ; its 
timbers hung swaying in the middle of the stream; 
trees had been uprooted, and were tossing on the 
water, or were jammed against the trunks of those 
still standing. 

There was a considerable part of St. Helena 
Island that stood above the flood, and on these hill- 
tops the boys could make out a number of people. 

They’re all right for the time being,” said 
Mr. Blossom. There’ll be plenty of boats putting 
out from Beaufort to carry them to the mainland. 
What I want to do is to see if I can pick up any 
castaways.” He sent the boat threading its way 
between the islands, while all four kept a sharp look- 
out for floating timbers. It was growing dark fast, 
and every few minutes one or other of the boys 
would call out Ship a-hoy ! ” to let any one know 
that they were near at hand. 

When they came to the south of the islands they 
turned toward the mainland, and had not gone far 
when Rodney’s hail was answered by a voice a short 
way ahead of them. 


126 BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 

Over here! ” called the voice, which seemed to 
come from the water. The motor-boat moved more 
slowly, while its crew looked for the voice’s owner. 
Soon they saw him, a young colored fellow on what 
looked to be a small raft, bobbing up and down in 
the water. 

The motor-boat touched the raft, and Stephen 
and Rodney helped the passenger aboard their craft. 

‘‘ I had a stick and was tryin’ to steer for St. 
Helena,” the new arrival said, '' but I’se mighty glad 
you-all come along! That water’s awful cold, and 
that ’ere raft don’t steer very well.” He gave a 
chuckle, and pointed toward the disappearing raft. 
“ That’s the roof of my house,” he explained. ‘‘All 
the fam’ly got up to the high ground in good time, 
but I stayed to fetch the chickens. The cabin was 
blown to splinters, but the roof done make a raft. 
I reckon them chickens is a swimmin’, for sure! ” 

“Any of your neighbors in trouble ? ” asked 
Mr. Blossom. 

“ I reckon they all got out in time,” said the 
colored youth. “ We-all knows what that kind of 
hurricane means. I reckon I was jest about the only 
foolish one.” 

With the rescued man on board, the boat chugged 
on in the direction of Beaufort. It was now quite 
dark, and very hard to distinguish objects on the 
water. Every few minutes Mr. Blossom would blow 
his motor- whistle, so that if there was any one 


THE GREAT STORM 


m 


within ear-shot that might need help he could call 
to him. No one did call, however, and as they found 
no other people afloat in boats or on rafts, they 
pulled up to the dock at Beaufort, fastened their boat 
and went ashore. 

The town had suffered considerably from the 
storm, though not nearly so much as had the islands. 
Water stood up to the street level ; boats and landing- 
stage had been battered and wrecked; trees and 
bushes had been blown down, and some of the 
shanties had been unroofed. There were a good 
many people on the water-front eager to know what 
had happened to the islands. Boats had already been 
sent out, and some of these having returned had re- 
ported that the islanders were safe on the high 
ground. A few islanders had been brought back to 
Beaufort, but most of them preferred to stay where 
they could be near their flooded farms. Rescue boats 
had taken out food and blankets, and now that the 
storm was rapidly subsiding there seemed little pos- 
sibility of further suffering for the homeless people. 

Presently Tom saw Colonel Whitney and ran up 
to him. 

I hope your house is all right, sir,’' said Tom. 
'' I guess you were far enough back to escape the 
big wave.” 

‘‘ It didn’t do us much harm,” said the Colonel, 

% 

except to blow the limbs off a couple of magnolias. 
I was wondering how you boys were faring. Your 


128 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


island must have been right in the line of the storm.” 

It was,” said Tom, “ but Mr. Blossom got us 
away in good time. We were in his house when the 
wave came. That’s pretty firm, you know, but it 
looked as if the water might toss it up any minute.” 

One of my neighbors is very much worried,” 
said the Colonel. ‘‘Her son and daughter, with 
three others, started in some row-boats this morning 
to go up along the shore, and have a picnic party. 
They knew the weather wasn’t very steady, but they 
said they’d keep close to shore and head for land at 
the first gust of wind. They haven’t come back yet, 
and their parents are right worried.” 

“ Which way did they go? ” Tom asked. Colonel 
Whitney pointed northward. 

“ We might run along the shore in Mr. Blossom’s 
boat, and see if we can find them,” Tom suggested. 
“ There doesn’t seem to be anything else to be done 
around here.” 

Mr. Blossom agreed, and leaving the colored 
youth to be carried out to his home island in a boat 
that was just embarking, the three boys and Mr. 
Blossom set out along the shore to the north. The 
water was quieter now, the head-light showed for 
some distance, and the motor-whistle could be heard 
a long way. They threaded their path between the 
mainland and the little islands, stopping every now 
and then to blow the whistle and listen for an answer. 

They had gone several miles north when a voice 


THE GREAT STORM 


m 


came from a small island to the east. ‘‘ Ship a-hoy ! ” 
cried the boys. Turning the bow in that direction 
the boat was soon grating on a sandy beach. Lifting 
the head-light from its socket in the bow, Tom swept 
the shore with it. The light revealed two girls and 
three boys standing in a row like so many ship- 
wrecked mariners, waving caps and handkerchiefs. 

It was the picnic party, who had taken refuge 
here when the storm broke. Their own boat had 
swamped in the gale and been swept away, and they 
had thought to spend the night on the island. Five 
passengers was crowding the capacity of the motor- 
boat, but they all managed to get on board, and 
were soon on their way back to Beaufort. Other 
boats there were busy on other rescue errands, but 
by ten o’clock there was little more to be done along 
the water-front. 

The four went back to Mr. Blossom’s cottage, 
which they found standing up like a light-house above 
the waste of waters. The boys took possession of 
the attic. 

‘‘ I’m glad we’re here, and not out on the ship 
to-night,” said Rodney, pulling off his wet and sticky 
oilskins. 

‘‘ You bet ! ” agreed Stephen. 

“ By Jove,” said Tom, you know I’d almost 
forgotten about our finding the chest, so much has 
been happening to-day ! Well, I don’t see how the 
waves could have done anything to it.” 

9 


130 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


'‘They couldn’t,” Rodney stated positively. 
" We’ll find it where we left it, stuck tight in among 
those trees.” 

The view from their window next morning 
showed the water as calm as it had been on their first 
arrival at the islands. Only the beaches on Mr. Blos- 
som’s island were now under water. Most of the 
fences and small buildings had been washed away, 
and Joe’s cabin looked a good deal like a lobster- 
trap that had been hauled out of the sea. A fairly 
warm sun was drying things up quickly, and it was 
clear that within a week Mr. Blossom’s little settle- 
ment could be made about as good as ever. Some 
of the smaller trees had been up-rooted, branches had 
been torn from the larger ones, and both the vegetable 
and the flower garden had been under water so long 
as to make their crops extremely doubtful. 

The colored man and his wife seemed only too 
delighted to find that matters were no worse, and by 
the time the boys had finished breakfast they saw 
Joe and Mrs. Joe clearing away the litter of broken 
timbers and boughs from before their house, while 
the pickaninnies played on Mr. Blossom’s porch. 

" One more trip through the islands to Beaufort,” 
announced Henry Blossom, as he and his three guests 
came out from his dining-room, " just to make sure 
our neighbors are all right. Now, if the owners of 
those little shacks and corn-fields over on St. Helena 
were city people, they’d raise an awful rumpus be- 


THE GREAT STORM 


131 


cause of what the storm’s done. But these people 
won’t. They’ll pick up the scraps and do what they 
can with them, and if their cotton crops are spoiled, 
they’ll have to live on oysters and anything they can 
scrape up for the time being.” 

So the boys found the case to be. They made a 
tour of St. Helena Island, and there they found 
general thanksgiving that the storm had been no 
worse. There was a strong religious sense among 
these people, which led them to feel that they must 
take the blowing away of their houses and the soak- 
ing of their crops with the same humility with which 
they took sunshine and warmth. The people were 
all there, having spent the night safely in the houses 
on the higher ground, but cabins and cotton-fields 
were ruined in many places, and it looked as if 
most of the year’s work had gone for naught. 

The boat carried messages from one group to 
another. Apparently no other aid was needed, and 
when it had completed the circuit of St. Helena and 
Ladies’ Islands, it made for Beaufort. Here the signs 
ol damage were much less that morning. There 
was more show of activity in the little port than 
usual, but beyond wreckage along the water-front, 
there was small evidence of injury to any of the 
houses. 

Mr. Blossom had to make purchases at some of 
the stores, and dinner-time found them still in town. 
They took that meal at the hotel, and then returned 


132 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


to the harbor. As they came down to the wharf an 
amusing sight met their eyes. A big man was hold- 
ing forth to their old friend Peter Doan, while his 
comrade Sam Parry was baling water out of Doan’s 
motor-boat. 

It’s a wonder to me you ain’t prowling ’round 
them islands seeing what you can pick up,” the big 
man was saying. Never knew you to miss a chance 
to get your fingers on other people’s things. Ain’t 
there plenty of doors and shutters floating around 
the bay for you to fetch in here and use for firewood? 
I reckon that stuttering old Sea Sarpint must leak 
pretty bad, or you’d be out in it looking for what 
you could find.” He jerked his thumb in the direc- 
tion of Doan’s boat. Leaking pretty bad, is she? ” 

Sea Serpent just suits her,” Stephen whispered, 
nudging Tom. '' That boat’s got a funny snake-like 
wriggle in the water.” 

Meantime, Doan was trying to look indignant at 
the other’s charges. 

Don’t you talk that way to me ! ” he said. 

There ain’t a boat in Beaufort that don’t leak some 
after that storm. As for taking advantage of other 
people’s troubles, I reckon my partner and I did a 
whole lot more to help yesterday than you ever 
thought of doing. We carried messages back and 
forth between here and Port Royal when the wires 
blew down.” 

ril bet they had to pay you before you'd take 


THE GREAT STORM 


133 


any message,” retorted the other. Then, seeing Mr. 
Blossom and the boys smiling at the scene, the speaker 
flushed a little. 

“ Howdy-do,” said Mr. Blossom. 

‘‘ Tm a plain-speaking person, as you know,” 
said the man, '' and I was giving this here fellow a 
bit of my mind. IVe had dealings with him before; 
I ’low I know him mighty well.” 

‘‘ I ’low I could tell a few things about you, too,” 
said Doan, only I got too much respect for other 
people’s ears to tell them here.” He stalked away 
to the boat, where he looked at the results of Parry’s 
baling. ‘‘ She’s as dry as dry,” he announced with 
pride. 

“ I reckon she’s good to go as far as Charleston,” 
declared Parry. 

Well, Mr. Blossom, I wouldn’t advise you or 
your friends to go for a ride in his old Sea Sarpint,” 
said the other man. “ He’d get you out in the bay 
and then you’d all have to take to baling to keep the 
old barge afloat.” 

We don’t intend to,” Mr. Blossom assured him. 

I’ve got my own boat over there.” 

The other man looked where he pointed. 

Now that’s a right trim-looking craft,” said he. 
‘‘ What do you call her ? ” 

'' The Wild Goose,” said Mr. Blossom. 

Well, I’ll back her any day in a race against 
Doan’s old Sea Sarpint,” said the other. 


134 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Doan and Parry were pretending to pay no 
attention to this talk. Having made their boat water- 
tight, they went up to Doan’s little house on the 
shore and brought down a couple of empty boxes, 
some rope and fishing-lines, which they put into their 
boat. , 

It’s pretty poor weather for fishing right after 
a storm,” the big man called out to them, as they 
stepped in and started their engine. But I reckon 
you ain’t so much regular fishermen as wreckers, like 
those fellows what pick up other folk’s things off 
the Florida coast. They go out to see what they can 
get from ships that have gone adrift in storms,” he 
added. 

“ Never you mind what we’re going to do,” was 
Doan’s parting shot, as he swung the bow of his boat 
away from the shore, and headed for the channel. 

See how she wriggles along,” said Stephen. 

I’m going to call her the Sea Serpent after this.” 
beautiful pair, them two,” said the big man. 

I wouldn’t trust ’em not to steal the sign off a blind 
beggai.” With this he walked away, shaking his 
head and muttering from time to time as he glanced 
out at the retreating boat. 

Chuckling over the repartee between the two 
men, the boys and their friend watched The Sea 
Serpent ” until she was hidden by the nearest island. 
Then Tom turned abruptly to Mr. Blossom. “ I think 
we ought to go out for the chest right away,” he said. 


THE GREAT STORM 


1S5 


“ Right you are,” said the man. Let me see. 
We’ll need some way of getting it up to our boat — 
ropes and a couple of good stout poles. I wonder 
how much it weighs.” 

We’d better take a chisel and hatchet along,” 
Rodney suggested. It might be too heavy to get 
on board, but we could break it open and take the 
money.” 

‘‘ You’re pretty sure there’s money in it ! ” 
laughed Mr. Blossom. We’ll need poles and rope 
and a chisel and hatchet. I’ve got them all at my 
house. Come down to the boat. We’ll get what we 
need, and then we’ll salvage old Blackbeard’s chest.” 


XI 


HIDDEN TREASURE 

Mr. Blossom's boat, ‘‘ The Wild Goose," as its 
owner had christened it, stopped at Blossom’s island 
long enough to take on board a couple of stout poles, a 
coil of rope, a hatchet, hammer, and coal chisel, then 
shot across the short stretch of open water to Black- 
beard’s Island, rounded the point, and cruised along 
the beach as far south as the old ship. 

The tidal wave had swept over all the island, 
except possibly the very highest part in the middle of 
the woods. As on the other islands, limbs of trees 
had been broken, bushes up-rooted, and wreckage 
cast about everywhere. 

‘‘No wonder we didn’t find the chest where we 
first looked for it," said Tom. “A few storms like 
that one would be almost enough to change the course 
of the little stream." 

“The Jolly Roger" looked as usual from the 
water ; her stout sides had weathered many a hurri- 
cane, and there had been little left of her timbers that 
could be swept away by sea or storm. When the boys 
waded ashore from the motor-boat, however, and 
climbed up on to the deck, they found few traces of 
the camp outfit they left there. The canvas tent had 
blown away and was probably now far inland, roost- 
136 


HIDDEN TREASURE 


1S7 


ing on the top of some tall pine. Blankets and extra 
clothing that had been left on the deck had likewise 
vanished. In the cabin the store of provisions had 
been pretty thoroughly soaked in the water that had 
dashed over the sides. A few things were unharmed ; 
tinned goods, the shovels, the hatchets, and the axe, 
though even these had a coating of rust. 

Stephen pointed to a reddish object, wrapped 
about a tree on the edge of the beach. 

That looks like one of our blankets,” he said. 

Perhaps we could find the rest if we hunted 
through the woods.” 

It’s pretty well soaked by now,” said Rodney. 
“ Don’t bother to get it; it’ll stay there a little longer 
anyhow, and the sun and wind will dry it out as well 
as you could here on the deck.” 

“ Don’t bother about your bedding,” said Mr. 
Blossom. I’ve got plenty of things over at my 
house. I guess I can fit you all out with any clothes 
and blankets you need. It’s too bad you didn’t have 
some fresh eggs in the cabin ; the waves would have 
beaten them into a fine omelet.” 

Hello ! Look there ! ” exclaimed Tom, pointing 
down toward the southern marshes. That must be 
the row-boat you loaned us. It looks like a big turtle 
stretched out on its back.” They saw the keel and 
bottom of a row-boat upside down in the marshes. 
That gave them a good idea of the force of the storm. 

They took the better part of an hour to investigate 


138 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


the ship and its surroundings before they got aboard 
The Wild Goose ” again. Then Henry Blossom 
swung his craft about, heading up shore. The water 
was very smooth now. Sea-gulls were dipping down 
to the blue surface, searching for fish, and then rising 
and flapping gracefully away. Not very far to the 
north they heard the chug of another boat, the noise 
being brought clearly to them through the still air, 
though the boat itself was only a speck in the distance. 

At the entrance to the stream they turned in. The 
water here was much higher than it had been before, 
due to the recent storm. 

I think we can take the boat all the way up to 
the clearing,’’ said Tom. '' She doesn’t draw much, 
and it would be a lot easier if we could lift the chest 
on board, instead of rolling it down to the boat.” 

“ I don’t mind,” agreed Henry Blossom. ‘‘ We 
can pole her off if the boat rups aground.” 

The high water went all the way up stream. They 
made the bend and drew near to the clearing. 

Why, it’s almost a lake ! ” exclaimed Stephen, 
pointing ahead to the place where they had dug the 
soil away. “ It’s flooded over Rodney’s dike, and 
made a great big pool.” 

This was j ust what had happened. The flood had 
swept out of the river’s course, and flowed through 
the diggings, so that now the clearing looked very 
different from what it had before the storm. But 
there was no doubt of the place; the boys knew the 


HIDDEN TREASURE 


130 


trees there far too well to be deceived. They also 
knew exactly where they had left the chest, wedged 
between two of the trees. 

“ The water must be over the top of the chest ! 
Rodney exclaimed, pointing to the place where they 
had left it. 

‘‘ It surely must be,” agreed Mr. Blossom. I 
wonder if I’d better take the boat over there.” He 
made an attempt and found there was depth enough, 
so he steered to the spot where they had rolled the 
chest, stopped his engine, and twisted the painter 
around one of the trees so as to hold the boat still. 
The boys were looking over at the space between the 
trees, now three feet under water. 

“ Great guns ! ” exclaimed Stephen. “ What's 
become of it? ” 

Henry Blossom looked over the boat’s side; he 
looked at the trees, and then around them in order to 
make sure that they had the right place. There was 
no doubt, however, that this was the spot where they 
had rolled the chest and wedged it between the trees. 
Then he looked down again at the ground under the 
water. There was no denying the fact that the chest 
was no longer there. For some minutes all four 
stared at the place, as if in a trance ; then they looked 
around at the neighboring part of the clearing, at 
the bushes along its edge, even up into the trees, as 
though they thought the chest might have taken wings 
and lodged in the branches. 


140 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


‘‘ Well, of all things ! ” muttered Tom. '' That 
chest must have weighed a whole lot, and I don’t see 
how the storm could possibly have swept it out of 
this place ! ” 

‘‘ It couldn’t,” said Rodney, very positively. 

The trees and bushes are so thick it couldn’t have 
gotten through them.” 

‘‘ It must have weighed an awful lot ! ” said 
Stephen. The water couldn’t have flung it about.” 

‘‘ No, siree,” agreed Mr. Blossom. It would 
have taken more than that tidal wave to pick up a 
chest as heavy as that and float it off through the 
woods.” 

“Where in thunder can it be then?” Rodney 
demanded. “ It certainly was here just two days 
ago. 

“ I’ll swear to that,” agreed Mr. Blossom. 

Stephen stripped off his clothes, jumped over the 
side of the boat, and waded around where the chest 
had been. 

“ I think I can feel the place where it stuck on 
the bottom,” he said. He waded all over the little 
lake, but there wasn’t a stick or stone that gave the 
slightest clue to what had become of the treasure. 

The hunters sat in the boat looking as bewildered 
and mystified as people could look. They had thought 
to fasten ropes around the old chest, haul it up on 
board, take it down to the beach, break it open with 
the hatchet and chisel, and find out what Blackbeard 


HIDDEN TREASURE 


141 


had hidden in it. Instead, the place was as empty 
of any chest as if they had never found one in the 
bed of the stream, and rolled it there. Stephen 
climbed on board and put on his clothes. 

‘‘ I wish we’d stayed out here, storm or no 
storm,” he declared. We oughtn’t to have left that 
old chest for a minute.” 

You couldn’t have stayed,” said Mr. Blossom. 

There’s no knowing what the storm might have 
done to you.” 

Tom had taken to twisting his hair in his fingers. 

The chest didn’t fly away, and we don’t see how the 
storm could have swept it away. How did it get 
away then? ” 

If you ask me,” said Rodney, ‘‘ I’d say it must 
have been helped.” 

Who helped it? ” Tom asked, still looking in- 
tently at the distant trees, as if he were questioning 
them. 

Now one name instinctively occurred to all the 
party. 

I don’t see how he could ever have found it,” 
said Stephen. 

Nor I. He couldn’t have gotten it away during 
the storm,” put in Rodney. 

Mr. Blossom only shook his head and said 
nothing. 

‘'If he did take it,” declared Tom, sitting up 
straight suddenly, “ we’re only wasting time chatter- 


142 BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 

ing here. We might as well admit he’s beaten us 
to-day.” 

“ But it doesn’t belong to him,” said Henry Blos- 
som. “ In the first place this island’s mine, and any- 
thing that’s found on it really belongs to me ; in the 
second place you boys found it, and only left it here 
until you could come and get it. He hasn’t any more 
right to it than if he came up into my house and stole 
one of my rifles. He’s just a plain ordinary thief.” 

‘'Of course we don’t really know who took it,” 
argued Tom. 

“ Well, who else could? ” said Stephen. “ I bet 
you if we find Peter Doan, we’ll find the chest.” 

To make absolutely certain they took one more 
thorough look around, but there was no possible 
doubt that the chest was gone; so Mr. Blossom 
started his engine again, and carefully backed the 
boat down the stream. Out on the ocean they held a 
short conference. 

“We don’t mean to let him get away with it,” 
said Tom. “ I’m sure I don’t, for one.” 

“And I’m sure I don’t,” said Stephen. 

“ Nor I,” agreed Rodney. 

“ Then,’^ said Mr. Blossom, “ I guess the thing 
for us to do is to chase those two pirates. Parry must 
have helped him. He couldn’t possibly have managed 
that chest by himself. The question is, where did 
he go?” 

It was an easy question to ask, but a very hard 


HIDDEN TREASURE 


143 


one to answer. The ocean stretched away to the 
east, the islands and the mainland on the other side. 
The two men might have gone in any direction, and 
might have hidden their treasure in any place they 
chose. 

“ I don’t suppose he made back for Beaufort,” 
said Stephen, “ but there’s a chance that he might 
have. Perhaps we’d better begin to hunt there.” 

Tom looked out across the water. There was no 
sign of a boat anywhere about ; there was no sound 
of a motor to be heard. 

Do you mind taking us to Beaufort, Mr. Blos- 
som ? ” he asked. 

“ Do I mind! ” echoed Mr Blossom. I’m just 
as much in this chase now as any of you three ; we’ll 
work it out together. To Beaufort it is.” He 
headed the boat north, then west, and let her have all 
the power she could stand. 

The trip to town was made in record time. The 
water-front was practically deserted as The Wild 
Goose ” slowed up at the wharf. Commander and 
crew tumbled out and headed up to the main street. 
They made for the little cottage that had been 
pointed out to them as the home of Peter Doan. The 
front door was locked. They pounded on it, but got 
no answer. They tried the windows, but found they 
were all fastened on the inside. A small door at the 
back bore a padlock. It was very plain that the 
owner wasn’t at home. 


144 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


“ I wonder where Parry lives/’ said Stephen. 
Stopping a negro, who was driving an old phaeton 
along, he asked where Sam Parry could be found. 

The negro scratched his head and looked doubt- 
ful. I don’t ’xactly know where he lives,” he 
answered vaguely. ’Pears to me he don’t have no 
reg’lar home; jest visits ’round with his friends. 
You might ask for him up to the store.” 

They inquired for Parry at the store, but without 
success. He’s probably up to some mischief,” the 
store-keeper volunteered. He has a room over the 
hardware shop down at the corner.” 

He wasn’t in his room at the hardware shop. No 
one there knew where he was. Time was passing, 
and it was evident that they were not apt to find any 
trace of Doan or Parry in Beaufort. Doan’s boat 
was gone, and the owner had vanished with it. 

Well,” said Tom, we seem to be up against it. 
They might have gotten almost anywhere by this 
time.” His tone sounded discouraged. 

We’ll go back to my house,” said Mr. Blossom. 

There’s no telling where we might pick up a clue.” 

Back to Henry Blossom’s island they went, and 
up to the house. The sun had set, and Joe’s wife was 
setting the supper table. 

I didn’t know when you-all would be coming 
in,” she said, but I knew you-all would be mighty 
hungry when you did come, so I thought I’d better be 
ready for you.’* 


HIDDEN TREASURE 


145 


Bring on the food/' said Mr. Blossom, ‘‘ and 
when you get a chance, ask Joe to step in here a 
minute.” 

In the midst of supper Joe arrived. Mr. Blos- 
som asked if he had seen anything that looked like 
Doan’s motor-boat that afternoon. Joe nodded. 

“ I seen it coming from there-along,” he said, 
pointing out the window in the direction of Black- 
beard’s island. “ I was down on the beach baling out 
one of the duck-boats, when I seen it come cruising 
up along here, heading north; that must have been 
about four o’clock, Mr. Blossom.” 

You’re sure it was Peter Doan’s boat? ” Henry 
Blossom asked. 

“ Yes, sir; I surely know that old rattle-trap of 
his’n.” 

‘‘ We got to Beaufort about five o’clock,” said 
Mr. Blossom, and we left the island about quarter 
to five, so they must have left about three-quarters of 
an hour before we did.” 

“ While we were up on the ship most likely,” 
said Rodney. 

‘^And they’re going north,” said Mr. Blossom. 
** Well, it’s a good long run to Charleston, and I 
don’t think they’ll make very good time in that old 
boat. Have you had enough to eat? If so, we’ll 
make a start after them.” The three boys answered 
at once in the affirmative. 

Mr. Blossom gave rapid orders. Joe’s wife was 
10 


146 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


to put some bread, a cold ham, some tinned things, 
and a bottle of drinking water into a basket and take 
it to the motor-boat. Joe was to strap one of the 
small canvas duck-boats on to the deck of The Wild 
Goose.” Blankets and sweaters were stored away in 
the forward compartment. I think we’ve every- 
thing we need for a short voyage,” said the owner. 

The sun had set, the night was clear, and the 
sea calm. As the crew of “ The Wild Goose ” left 
the dock, all felt a fine thrill of adventure. If the 
treasure-chest had slipped through their fingers, they 
were at least going hot-foot after it. This was the 
sort of a chase that the pirate himself must often 
have taken when he ranged the seas. 

Keep a sharp look-out ahead,” the skipper or- 
dered. “ I know the coast pretty well, but four pairs 
of eyes are a good deal better than one.” 

North, and somewhat east, they dashed, for the 
coast ran in a zigzag line, with little islands dotting 
it here and there. Reefs were well marked, and the 
captain was able to keep his boat at full speed. The 
afterglow died out of the sky. The stars grew 
brighter, the night wind rose, and blew lip small 
waves. Rodney was up in the bow, keeping a sharp 
look-out ahead ; Stephen and Tom, in the stern, fol- 
lowed the line of the shore for anything that might 
look like another boat. 

I’ve a notion they’ll keep fairly near to shore,” 
said Henry Blossom. That boat of Doan’s leaks, 


HIDDEN TREASURE 


147 


and I don’t believe the storm did much good to its 
engine ; besides they might want to run in and land 
when they come to a settlement. I think we’d better 
keep pretty close inshore.” 

The shore was mostly wooded down to the water’s 
edge; occasional little beaches broke the stretch of 
trees. Small cabins stood out here and there, but the 
only boats to be seen were ^ few old row-boats pulled 
up on the sand. 

“ We’re making good time,” said Mr. Blossom, 
glancing at his watch. ‘‘ That point’s a good ten 
miles from Beaufort. I don’t suppose they had any 
food on board, so they might stop and beg some at a 
farm-house.” 

'' I wouldn’t trust them to stop,” said Tom, if 
they’ve got the chest on board.” 

Nor I,” said Stephen. They might run all 
night without getting hungry.” 

Now their course was almost due north and it 
was nearly ten o’clock before they sighted a couple of 
small houses that stood in a clearing just above the 
beach. There was a little cove here, and the star- 
light showed several boats at anchor. 

We’d better take a look here,” said the skipper. 

The Wild Goose ” headed in near enough to 
have a look at the boats. Then Rodney called out, 
I think I see Doan’s boat; that one to the right — to 
the right of that big tree! Doesn’t that look like 
^ The Sea Serpent '? 


148 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


‘‘ It does,” agreed Tom, staring hard at the boat. 

“ The Wild Goose ” swung inland, and slowed 
down just off the cove. 

‘‘You’re right; it’s Doan’s boat,” declared Mr. 
Blossom, “ or if it isn’t, it rhust be its twin brother.” 

They ran gently up to the little floating stage, 
stopped the engine, fastened the boat, and landed. 
The sound of voices brought the inhabitants of the 
nearest house to the shore — a big, bearded man, a 
tall, gaunt women, a girl, and a red-headed boy. 

“ Evening,” called the man. 

“ Good evening,” answered Mr. Blossom, and 
walked up to the family of four, the boys following. 

The man and woman and the two children stared 
at the strangers as though they saw few people. 

“ My name’s Henry Blossom, and I live down 
near Beaufort. We’re looking for some friends, 
who came up this way in a motor-boat.” Mr. Blos- 
som pointed to the one in the cove. “ I think that’s 
their boat. Our friends are two men. Could you 
tell us which way they’ve gone ? ” 

The man continued to stare for a few minutes. 
“ That boat,” he said presently, nodding at the one 
Mr. Blossom indicated, “ came in here about an 
hour ago. It had sprung a leak, and was nigh half- 
full of water. The two men who was in it asked me 
to take care of it for them, and hired a sail-boat of 
me. They wanted to get up along north, they said.” 
He squinted at the sky. “ I don’t reckon they’d git 


HIDDEN TREASURE 


149 


very far in this wind. The sail-boat ain’t v iry fast, 
and they took a big box out of that there b* 'Jt, and 
put it in the other.” 

big box ? ” echoed Mr. Blossom. 

“ Yes, a big black box,” said the man, but they 
didn’t say what was in it.” 

“ Well, I’m glad we know where they are,” said 
Mr. Blossom in a cheery voice. ‘‘We don’t want to 
lose track of them, if we can possibly help it.” He 
too considered the wind. “ I don’t believe they’d 
get far on this tack,” said he. “ Wind’s dying down 
again. If you’ve no objections, we’d like to camp 
out on your point.” 

Mr. Blossom’s manner was so pleasant that it 
would have been hard for anyone to refuse him a 
request. In this particular case any one was free to 
camp out on the point. Moreover, the fisherman and 
his family saw so few strangers that the arrival of 
these four was quite an event. The big man nodded. 
“ Sure you can camp out. My name’s John Calkins. 
This is my wife ’Lidy, and them children’s my son 
and darter.” 

“ We might give you a shake-down in the house,” 
said Mrs. Calkins, hospitably. 

“ Oh, no, thank you,” said Mr. Blossom. “ We’ll 
sleep out under the stars. We’ve got enough blankets 
in our boat, and I’m sure we’ll do very well. My 
friends are Tom and Rodney Mason, and Stephen 
Sims. Nice place you’ve got here, Mr. Calkins.” 


150 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


“Yes, ifs pretty nice,’’ agreed the other man, 
“ but ■ e storm didn’t help its looks any. The fishin’ 
ain’t b( en any too good lately. I’ll help you unload 
your si;uff.” Calkins and his son went down to the 
shore with the others, while Mrs. Calkins and her 
daughter withdrew to the house. 

They unloaded the sweaters and blankets, made 
the boat safe for the night, and chose a camping-place 
on a point under some pines. Looking north Tom 
saw a small island. 

“ Do you suppose your sail-boat could have got 
farther than that by this time?” he asked the 
Calkins boy. 

The latter grinned and shook his head. “ I don’t 
reckon she could,” he answered. 

The fisherman and his son returned to their cot- 
tage, and the four adventurers spread their blankets 
for the night. 

“ We know they can’t be very far away,” said 
Mr. Blossom, “ and if they’ve made a landing on 
shore, they couldn’t carry that heavy box very far. 
I think they’re safe till morning.” 

“ Well, we know who’s got the chest anyhow,” 
said Stephen. “ That’s some comfort.” 

“And we ought to catch sight of it again to- 
morrow,” put in Rodney. 

“ I shouldn’t wonder if they’d be becalmed before 
morning,” said Mr. Blossom. “ That’s where our 
boat will have a big advantage over them.” 


XII 


CALKINS’ COVE 

The arrival of The Wild Goose ’’ was undoubt- 
edly an event of great interest tO' the family of John 
Calkins. Henry Blossom and the three boys had 
hardly finished their early morning swim before the 
red-headed son of the fisherman joined them at their 
simple camp. He was more talkative now than he 
had been the night before. 

‘‘ That there boat the two men left’s plum full 
of water this morning/’ he stated. “ I reckon it’s 
sprung a pretty big leak. I wouldn’t want to go out 
to sea in it ; no, sir, I’d rather have our old sail-boat 
any day.” 

Rodney was trying to make his wet hair lie down, 
patting it with his hand. “ I suppose you know all 
about sailing a boat? ” he asked the Calkins boy. 

Well,” said the other, sticking his hands into 
his trousers pockets, and throwing his head back with 
a confident air, I reckon I could sail a boat in most 
any kind of weather, ’cept a calm like it is now.” 

You don’t think the sail-boat can have gone far 
then ? ” Rodney asked. 

Not without more wind than this,” was the 
answer. I don’t reckon them two men will want 
to take to the oars. It’s a mighty heavy boat, and 
oars won’t make it go fast.” 


151 


152 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


“ What’s your name? ” asked Rodney. 

Pete,” said the boy. I go to school for three 
months every winter, and the rest of the time I fish 
and work around this here place. I’d like to get to 
be an engineer on a railroad.” He looked anxiously 
at Rodney, whom he seemed to regard as a person of 
considerable intelligence, although they were about 
the same age. Do you think I ever could be ? ” 
Sure,” said Rodney. You don’t have to be 
so mighty wise to be an engineer. Sit down and have 
breakfast with us.” 

Peter Calkins had already had one breakfast, but 
he accepted the invitation and shared the simple pro- 
visions the boys produced from the locker of “ The 
Wild Goose.” He had gotten over any shyness he 
might have felt in the presence of strangers. His 
good-natured freckled face and light blue eyes 
showed the keenest interest in everything the others 
said. He never missed a joke, and would slap his 
leg as he laughed, evidently in imitation of his father. 

By the time they had finished breakfast the fisher- 
man and his daughter joined them. The girl, who 
wore a faded blue calico dress, was a couple of 
years older than her brother. At first she was as 
shy as he had been, but Mr. Blossom soon made her 
feel quite at home by telling her how he had gathered 
the chickens and pigs and pickaninnies into his house 
during the storm. He told a funny story very well, 
and by the time he had done the girl was sitting on 


CALKINS’ COVE 


153 


the ground with the rest of them, laughing almost 
as loudly as her brother Peter. 

WeVe got the pigs, and the chickens,” said 
Mr. Calkins, “ but we ain’t got the pickaninnies, 
unless you call Eliza-Jane and Pete pickaninnies.” 

“ Don’t you dare ! ” said Eliza-Jane, and she 
shook her fist at her father, so that he pretended to 
be very much afraid and started to run away. 

'' Now,” said Mr. Blossom, to business. What 
do you propose, Tom? ” 

Tom took a quick glance at the fisherman and 
his two children. They were much too friendly and 
innocent-looking for him to suspect them of being 
confederates of Doan. 

I suppose we want to catch up with our two 
friends,” said he. I think we ought to start out in 
^ The Wild Goose,’ and try to find the sail-boat.” 

How can you tell it when you see it ? ” Stephen 
asked. 

I can point it out to you,” put in Peter. 

I think we’d better take Peter along with us,” 
decided Mr. Blossom. ‘‘ He knows the sail-boat, 
and also the reefs and rocks around here.” 

It was clear that Peter was much delighted at the 
prospect. He danced all the way down to The Wild 
Goose,” and pulled the motor-boat close up to the 
float. John Calkins and his daughter watched the 
others embark, the girl looking a little envious at her 
brother’s good luck. 


154 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


“ It’s too bad we can’t take you out with us, 
Eliza-Jane,” said Mr. Blossom. We’ll call again 
later, and give you a real joy-ride.” 

The object of the pursuers was evidently to try 
to catch up with Doan and Parry without the latter 
knowing of their presence. The wind had been so 
light ever since the previous evening that the two 
men certainly couldn’t have gone far in the sail-boat. 
As The Wild Goose ” might overtake them at any 
time, Mr. Blossom ran his boat as quietly as he could, 
stealing along the shore where the boat would not 
make so visible a mark against the trees and beach. 
There was a risk that the fisherman’s boy might hail 
the sail-boat as soon as he saw it, so Mr. Blossom told 
him that they were anxious to come upon the two 
men unawares. We want to surprise them,” he 
said, '' and if we could, we’d like to get that big box 
your father spoke about away from them without 
their knowing it.” 

“ They’d sail outside of Cow Island,” said Peter, 
if they was trying to make time up-shore.” He 
pointed to a pine-covered stretch of land that lay 
about a hundred yards off the coast. 

The Wild Goose ” turned to the east, and stole 
very quietly toward Ccnv Island. Around the south- 
ern end it turned and made its way north. The 
morning was very warm, and there was hardly a 
ripple on the water. 

“ Mighty poor day for sailing,” said Peter. He 


CALKINS’ COVE 


155 


stood up and looked ahead. “ I think that’s our boat 
in that little harbor,” said he. I didn’t think they’d 
get much farther than that.” 

Now they saw the white sail of a small boat where 
the boy pointed. If he was right in his guess, they 
must be very careful or the men would hear them. 

The Wild Goose ” was run fairly close to land. The 
crew slipped over the side into a couple of feet of 
water and carried the rope to the shore, where it was 
fastened securely around a tree. Very cautiously the 
party of five crept along through the bushes that 
grew down to the water’s edge. As they got nearer 
the tiny harbor they lay flat and pushed themselves 
along like Indians hunting buffalo. Soon they could 
see the shore close to the boat. No men were in 
sight. There was only the sail-boat, its canvas barely 
stirring in the faintest breeze, and tiny waves rippling 
against its sides. 

‘‘ It looks deserted as our ‘ Jolly Roger,’ ” 
Stephen whispered. '' But they may be lying in the 
bottom of the boat; they must be somewhere on 
the island.” 

For a full fifteen minutes the four boys and 
Henry Blossom lay in the bushes, watching the sail- 
boat and the shore near it. There was no sign of the 
men. The only sound was the lapping of the water. 
Then Stephen made a suggestion. Why not let 
Peter go up to the boat? ” he whispered. “ If the 
two men are hiding he can say that his father brought 


156 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


him over here in one of his boats ; they won’t suspect 
him of knowing anything about us.” 

‘'Great head!” muttered Tom. He looked at 
Mr. Blossom, who nodded. 

“ So I’m not to let on that Tve seen you? ” asked 
Peter. 

“No; you just pretend you came over here to 
dig oysters, or anything else you can think of ; and 
pretend to be very much surprised if you see the 
men. But not a word about us.” This was Stephen’s 
whispered counsel. 

“And if you do find them, make them stand up 
so we can catch a glimpse of them; and we’ll steer 
back to ‘ The Wild Goose ’ without their seeing us,” 
whispered Tom. 

The fisherman’s son stood up and advanced along 
the shore toward the sail-boat. He whistled as he 
went, so as to give the men notice of his coming. 
Those in hiding watched intently as Peter crossed 
the little beach and went up to the boat. 

The sail-boat was in a couple of feet of water 
a small anchor and rope holding her to the beach. 
Peter waded out as if he were quite as much accus- 
tomed to having his shoes and stockings wet as dry, 
and laid his hands on the sail-boat’s gunwale and 
pulled himself on board. The searching party saw 
him stand up and wave his hands to them. Then he 
beckoned to them. 

“ Nobody there,” muttered Rodney. “ Those 


CALKINS’ COVE 


157 


two pirates must be looking around for some other 
way to escape.” The boys and the man ran quickly 
to the sail-boat, and splashed out into the water. It 
was a small boat with no cabin, and with only a 
covered place at the bow. Fishing tackle and a coil 
of rope, a small wooden box that had held soap, and 
a sack such as flour is put in, lay on the bottom of 
the sail-boat. 

Where’s the chest ? ” demanded Rodney. 

Where the dickens can it have got to ? ” Stephen 
asked, looking all around. 

It’s not in the boat, that’s sure,” said Tom. 

“ You’re certain you saw the two men put a big 
box into your boat, are you ? ” Stephen asked Peter. 

''You bet I did,” said the other boy. "They 
were so clumsy about it we thought they’d swamp 
this here boat.” 

" Well, they’ve taken it out again, that’s certain,” 
said Henry Blossom. 

Tom was pulling his hair. " I suppose when 
they found there wasn’t enough wind for sailing, 
they thought they’d better put in here instead of lying 
out on the water becalmed. If we came after them, 
we wouldn’t be so apt to find them here as if they 
were out in the sail-boat. They’d guess we’d prob- 
ably go on past them, so they landed here ; and then 
to make sure nothing should happen to the chest, 
they lugged it out of the boat and hid it somewhere. 
That’s my guess.” 


158 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Sounds all right/’ agreed Stephen. ‘‘ The ques- 
tion is, do we want to hunt for it now, and run the 
risk of their seeing us, or had we better lie low and 
wait for them to take the next step ? ” 

If they knew we were here they could do a 
hundred things to make sure we’d never find it,” said 
Tom. “ I think we’d better keep a watch on them. 
We can arrange it so they can’t leave the island 
without our knowing it. When they do leave they’ll 
surely take the chest with them.” He happened to 
glance at Peter Calkins, who was listening with the 
greatest attention. 

Jumping Jupiter ! ” Tom exclaimed. **WeVe 
forgotten Peter doesn’t know what we’re talking 
about ! ” The others looked somewhat disturbed for 
a minute. Then Tom’s eyes twinkled. '' I guess 
we’d better tell him right off the bat,” said he. 

He’d better know what we’re up to, instead of 
trying to guess it.” That seemed wise advice, and 
they explained the whole situation to the fisherman’s 
boy. His round blue eyes looked rounder than ever 
as he listened to their story of pirates and hidden 
treasure. 

‘‘ Golly ! ” he said, when he had heard the whole 
tale, but I’d like to help you get it away from 
those two fellows! How’d it do to steal this here 
sail-boat ; then they’d have to stay here, or else swim 
ashore; and they couldn’t very well swim and take 
that big box with them.” 


CALKINS* COVE 


159 


No/’ said Tom, what we want is to get hold 
of the chest, and not the men. If we took the boat, 
and they found we were on their track they might 
just leave the chest where they’ve hidden it, and laugh 
at us, and come back some time later and get it for 
themselves. That won’t do at all. We must know 
where the treasure is; that’s the main thing.” 

“ Tom’s right,” said Rodney. ‘‘ I vote we leave 
things just as they are here, but keep a watch on 
the island and spot them when they leave. It’s only 
a stone’s throw to shore, and we can camp on the 
bank there opposite and see whatever happens.” 

“ Except at night,” objected Stephen. 

Well,” said Rodney, they won’t be apt to 
stay here more than one night. Surely not, if there’s 
any wind for sailing, and we can take turns in the 
motor-boat at night patroling the water ’round here.” 

A short time afterwards the captain and crew of 
‘‘ The Wild Goose ” embarked again in their boat, 
and swimg around the southern end of the island to- 
ward the mainland. Doan and Parry must have been 
somewhere in the woods that hid the centre of the 
island, unless they had swum ashore ; and there would 
Have been little reason for their doing that. 

The shore of the mainland was covered with 
woods almost down to the water’s edge, furnishing 
a good shield for watching whatever took place off 
shore. Running a little to the south, Mr. Blossom 
found an inlet for his boat. The Wild Goose ” was 


160 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


anchored, and the searchers made their way through 
the trees to a point nearly opposite the island. A 
little hunting brought them to an open glade with a 
thin strip of pines between the glade and the shore. 
The sun came through the tree-tops, and the moss 
made a soft carpet. It was a- pleasant place for 
camping, and they at once decided to make this their 
Headquarters. 

“ I wonder if we could buy some milk and sup- 
plies from your father? ’’ Mr. Blossom asked Peter. 

“ I’m sure you could,” the boy answered. ‘‘ I 
can show you the trail down along through the woods 
that’ll bring you to our place in no time at all.” 

Tom and Rodney were left in charge of the camp, 
the arrangement being that one of them should keep 
a constant lookout on the water, and if he saw any 
sign of Doan and Parry leaving in the sail-boat, the 
other boy should run down to The Wild Goose ” 
and blow its motor-horn, which could be easily heard 
at the Calkins house, and would bring the rest of the 
party immediately. Stephen and Peter and Mr. Blos- 
som then set out in quest of fresh supplies. 

Mrs. Calkins and Eliza- Jane had been baking 
corn-bread the day before, and said they could spare 
a pan of that, as well as some milk, and some eggs 
and bacon. The girl looked disappointed at not 
taking part in the adventures her younger brother 
was having, and this led Mr. Blossom to suggest 
that perhaps she would like to come up in the woods 


CALKINS’ COVE 


161 


and have dinner with them. Eliza- Jane beamed at 
the suggestion, and accepted gladly. Mrs. Calkins 
said she could get along without her for that after- 
noon, and then, laden with their new provisions, the 
party went back to camp. 

It was a warm, almost windless, day, and Tom 
reported no sign of the sail-boat. The chances were 
that Doan and Parry had planned to spend some 
time on the island, thinking that any searching party 
would go farther north, and they would be able to 
double on their tracks and get away in another direc- 
tion before the searchers returned. Doubtless they 
had taken sufficient provisions in their boat when 
they started. In fact, Peter Calkins said that the 
men had transferred several packages from their 
motor-boat to his father’s sail-boat. 

There being no need of haste therefore, the 
campers decided to have a good dinner. While 
Stephen kept watch, Rodney cooked the meal of 
scrambled eggs, which he garnished with strips of 
fried bacon. This, and the corn-bread and milk 
made a good combination, and Eliza- Jane, with a 
smile at the warm besmudged face of Rodney, told 
him he made a much better cook than she did. 

Dinner cleared away, they played mumblety-peg 
for a while, using Tom’s jack-knife. Peter was the 
best at this game, though his sister showed the results 
of long and careful training at it. Then Mr. Blossom 
took a nap, while Rodney and Peter went down to 
11 . 


162 BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 

“ The Wild Goose ’’ to see that the boat was all right, 
and Eliza- Jane and Stephen sat on the bank pretend- 
ing to fish with long poles, string, and bent pins, and 
meantime kept a watch for any sails on the water. 

‘‘ Those cousins of yours are from up along 
north?’’ asked Eliza-Jane, as she cast her fishing 
line as if she were trying to hook a trout. 

Yes, from New York,” said Stephen. 

They talk different from us, don’t they? ” the 
girl went on. ‘‘ I suppose folks know an awful lot 
if they’ve lived in New York?” 

‘‘ Oh, I don’t know,” said Stephen. Tom and 
Rodney don’t know much more than I do. I’ve 
visited them and been off on trips with their troop, 
and they’re not much different up there from what 
we are here.” 

The girl leaned forward, resting her cheek on 
her fist. 

Gee, but I wish I was a boy, and could do some 
of the things you-all do ! Why couldn’t Peter have 
been a girl instead of me, or why weren’t we both 
boys ? ” 

This was, of course, a difficult question for 
Stephen to answer, yet the girl sounded so much in 
earnest that he felt as though he ought to say some- 
thing. 

Well, you see,” he began, lots of people wish 
they were something else, but it doesn’t follow they’d 
be any better off if they were. Now Tom and Rod 


CALKINS’ COVE 


163 


and I have been thinking it would be nice if we’d been 
pirates like old Blackbeard and Captain Kidd. But 
probably if we had been we wouldn’t have liked it 
at all. We just think of them as sailing ’round and 
holding people up and hiding their treasures; but 
probably they often got mighty sick of it, and got 
wounded, and sometimes they were hungry, and they 
must always have been pretty badly frightened for 
fear they’d get caught. So I reckon we’re just as 
well off as we are, after all.” 

Eliza- Jane shook her head slowly. “ That might 
be so of pirates, but it wouldn’t be so about boys like 
you and your cousins and Pete.” 

Stephen looked at the girl’s freckled, puzzled face. 

I was just coming to that,” said he, in his most 
fatherly manner. You see there’s lots of disagree- 
able things a fellow has to do that a girl doesn’t. 
For instance, he has to go to school more, and he 
has to ” — He hesitated. He has to ” — he scratched 
his head, and looked out at the water. He has 
to — well, I can’t think of anything else just now; 
but he has to learn a lot more than girls do, and that’s 
a pretty big nuisance.” 

Nonsense,” said Eliza-Jane, turning around and 
laughing at him. ‘‘A girl has to learn how to cook 
and sew and keep house. You can’t make me agree 
with you about that.” 

'' Well,” admitted Stephen, “ I hadn’t thought 
very much about the matter before; but I’m sure I 


164 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


could give you a pretty good argument when Fd 
thought it out.” 

“ I reckon you’re a pretty clever talker,” said 
Eliza-Jane, looking admiringly at Stephen. 

Oh, no,” he said, hastily, there’s lots cleverer 
than I. But my uncle says I ought to be a lawyer 
when I grow up, because I’ve always got something 
to say on every subject.” 

The girl looked out across the water thought- 
fully, then she pointed to the little island. Why, 
there are those men over there,” said she. See 
them down on the beach.” 

Stephen looked. By Jove ! It’s they ! ” he 
exclaimed. ‘‘ I’d know those two anywhere. Come 
back out of sight.” He sprang up, and with very 
little ceremony seized Eliza-Jane by the elbows and 
pulled her back behind the screen of trees. 


XIII 

A MESSENGER TO THE ENEMY 

Late that same afternoon Eliza- Jane, Stephen, 
Rodney, and Mr. Blossom went down to the little 
harbor known to the neighbors as Calkins’ Cove. 
Tom had stayed on guard at the camp. Peter and 
Stephen, on the shore, saw Mr. Calkins row in from 
a fishing trip. The keel of his boat grated on the 
sand, and he stepped out and pulled the boat up 
beyond the reach of the tide. 

‘‘ Those two fellows over on Cow Island called 
out to me as I came back from fishing,” said Mr. 
Calkins. They said there warn’t enough wind to 
use the sail-boat. They want to patch up their motor- 
boat if they can. I said I’d be going up to the store 
to-morrow, and I’d git ’em some of the things they 
wanted to stop the leak ; but they want to see what 
they can do with the boat before then, and I said I’d 
git you to row it over to them, Pete.” 

Peter looked rather glum at this suggestion. I’d 
a heap rather run the engine than row the old tub,” 
said he. 

There, there, sonny, you don’t know nothin’ 
about an engine, and you can row,” said his father. 
‘‘ We’ve got most of the water out of the boat, and 
she won’t ship much more before you git her over to 
Cow Island.” 


165 


166 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


“How am I to get back again? ’’ Peter de- 
manded. “ I don’t want to stay over there with those 
two fellows.’’ 

“That’s right,” said Mr. Calkins. “I hadn’t 
thought of that; how are you to git back? ” 

“ You might come back in the sail-boat,” sug- 
gested Rodney. 

“ Suppose they didn’t want to let me take it,” 
argued the other boy. “ They mightn’t want to 
have only the leaky motor-boat in case they wanted 
to get away.” 

“ That’s right,” agreed his father. “ Well, it 
won’t do you any harm to spend the night out there. 
I can pick you up in the morning, when I start out 
fishing.” 

“ I tell you what,” said Rodney, who had been 
thinking deeply, “ if they won’t let you come back 
in the sail-boat, you wait until it’s good and dark, 
then you light a lantern down on the shore on the 
side toward our camp. We brought along a duck- 
boat on ‘ The Wild Goose,’ and if I see your lantern 
I’ll paddle over in it and bring you back with me. 
Have you got a lantern? ” 

“ Oh, yes, ” said Mr. Calkins, “ we’ve got a 
lantern up to the house. You boys go ahead and 
make your plans. You’ll enjoy ’em. I’ll go up to 
the house and fix the lantern.” 

As soon as Mr. Calkins was out of ear-shot 
Rodney explained further. “ You see if you go 


A MESSENGER TO THE ENEMY 167 

over there you can find out something more about 
what they’re doing. You might even get on the 
track of where they’ve put the chest. Then when I 
paddle over, you can warn me not to land too near 
them by guiding me by the lantern. They needn’t 
know who’s in the duck-boat; they’ll just think it’s 
some of the people who live along here paddling out 
on the water. If they’re asleep by that time that’ll 
give me a chance to do a little spying on my own 
hook.” 

This idea was so delightful, and so changed 
Peter’s notion of what had been an unpleasant duty 
into an adventure, that the two immediately set to 
work to put it into execution. The leaky Sea 
Serpent ” was hauled closer to s'hore, and Peter, 
climbing into it, decided that he could probably row it 
as far as Cow Island before much water came in. By 
this time Mr. Calkins had returned with the lantern 
and a box of matches. The boys decided about the 
use of the lantern as a signal, and then Peter took the 
oars and pulled out of the cove. 

When Mr. Blossom, Rodney, and Stephen got 
back to their camp in the woods they found that Tom 
had nothing to report. Eliza-Jane and Stephen had 
caught the only glimpse of Doan and Parry that day. 
Supper was soon prepared and eaten; then Rodney 
told the others of the scheme he had concocted with 
Peter Calkins, and Stephen and he went down to the 
place where The Wild Goose ” was lying, unfast- 


168 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


ened the duck-boat from her deck, and launched it in 
the water. Together they paddled it around to the 
screen of trees by the camp. 

So still were they that even Mr. Blossom and 
Tom, sitting on the bank, scarcely heard them come 
up. The chances were good that Rodney would be 
able to get over to the island without being seen. 
Discussing the matter, it seemed fairly clear that the 
men who had stolen the treasure preferred to keep 
in hiding on Cow Island rather than take to the 
slow sail-boat, and run the risk of being overhauled 
and captured on the open water. The chances were 
that they would try to get The Sea Serpent ’’ in 
shape to carry them and the chest farther north. 
That being the case, it was most desirable that the 
treasure-seekers should try to get the chest away 
from the men while they were still on the island. 

The night was dark, and the island was soon only 
a dim line to the east of the camp. Then a light 
showed near its southern point. 

‘‘ That’s Peter’s signal,” said Rodney. “ Now 
don’t you people worry about me j I can take care of 
myself all right. I’ll go over and see what I can 
find out, then I’ll bring Peter back with me.” He 
took his seat in the duck-boat, which would hold only 
two, and dipped his paddle in the water. Slowly and 
noiselessly the boat left the shore, and was soon 
almost invisible from the bank. 

That solves one problem at least,” said Tom, 


A MESSENGER TO THE ENEMY 169 


as he watched the duck-boat fade into the darkness. 
‘'If those pirates try to get away to-night, Rodney 
will be sure to see them, and he’ll raise the alarm with 
his whistle; then we can get out ‘The Wild Goose’ 
and be after them in no time.” 

Rodney, meanwhile, was manoeuvring his light 
craft across the short stretch of water with all the 
skill that a practiced hunter uses in stealing up on 
unsuspecting ducks. Before he had gone more than 
half-way the lantern light was extinguished, proba- 
bly because Peter didn’t wish to run the risk of other 
eyes seeing it. But Rodney knew where the lantern 
had been, and he brought his boat gently up to that 
point. It slid softly over the pebbly shore, and he 
stepped out and pulled it after him up the sand. 
There stood Peter waiting. They made sure that the 
boat was safe. Then Peter whispered what had 
happened. 

“ I brought them the motor-boat all right,” said 
he, “ and they worked on it until it got too dark. 
They told me they wouldn’t let me take the sail-boat 
back; said Pd have to spend the night here. I let 
on I didn’t mind that, as Dad would stop for me in 
the morning. I think they’ve got the chest hidden in 
the trees, pretty near the sail-boat. I caught sight 
of something that looked like it and started to walk 
in that direction, when the man with the black 
whiskers caught me by the arm and told me to look 
out or I’d walk into a bog. He said he nearly got 


170 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


in up to his knees in the place I was making for. 
Shucks, there ain’t no bog there ! ” Peter added 
scornfully. 

What are they doing now? ” Rodney asked. 

They said they was mighty sleepy, and we all 
settled over there by the sail-boat. They made them- 
selves beds out of boughs. I let on to go to sleep, 
too, but I kept rolling farther and farther away from 
them, and when I was sure they didn’t know what I 
was up to, I sneaked away through the bushes, got 
the lantern where I’d left it back of a tree, and came 
over here. Gee, won’t they be surprised when they 
don’t find me in the morning? They’ll surely think 
I must have swum ashore.” 

Rodney, however, wasn’t much concerned as to 
what Parry and Doan would think of Peter’s disap- 
pearance; what he wanted was to see if Peter was 
right in supposing that Blackbeard’s chest was hidden 
in the woods near the sail-boat. 

‘‘You show me the way; I think we can get 
around there without making any noise at all,” he 
said. “ That’s one thing scouts are good at.” 

The fisherman’s boy was as skilful as Rodney in 
making his way through woods and underbrush 
without making a sound. At first it wasn’t so 
essential that they should break no twig nor rustle 
any dry leaves, but as they came closer to the eastern 
shore, they took every precaution not to disturb the 
sleepers. 


A MESSENGER TO THE ENEMY 171 


Peter led the way, and when he approached the 
beach above the sail-boat he stopped to point, and 
then to nod his head like one drowsy with sleep. 
Rodney understood. 

They didn’t go down to the beach, but instead 
circled through the trees until they came to a thicket, 
well protected by thorn-bushes. Parting this care- 
fully, Peter pushed his way through. As Rodney 
followed he made out the lines of a big chest in the 
centre of the thicket. He went over to it and looked 
at it more closely. It was as like the one that he and 
the other two had pulled out of the stream as two 
peas in a pod. It must be the very same iron chest 
they had found. He gave a tug at the top by catching 
his hands together around one corner. The top 
stuck tight, just as it had when they had first found 
the chest. 

It was a good deal to have located the box that 
they were all so eager to get hold of, but a strong 
desire came over Rodney to see what was inside it, 
and if there should be gold pieces to slip some of 
them into his pocket to take back to Tom and 
Stephen as a sample of what they might find when 
they got the box itself. He ran his fingers along the 
edge of the cover, but in the darkness he could not 
tell whether Peter Doan had yet pried up the edge 
so that he could pull the cover off. The lock seemed 
to be intact, and though he tried several times to pry 
up the cover, he found it would not budge. What 


172 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


he needed was a chisel and a hammer or heavy stone ; 
with that he might be able to pry the cover up. 

Peter had been standing by, keeping his ears 
open for any noise from the beach; now Rodney 
caught him by the sleeve and pulled him over to the 
chest. Breaking a twig from the bushes, he gave an 
imitation of what he wanted to do to the cover by 
pounding the twig with his fist. Peter nodded. Then 
Rodney took out his jack-knife, and hunted about 
until he found a stout branch ; this he cut and whittled 
to a point; then he cut a second stick like the first. 
He groped around until he found two fair-sized 
stones ; these he brought back to Peter, and the two 
of them started to see whether they could pry off the 
cover with these elementary tools. 

It was a difficult job. The sticks kept breaking, 
and the boys hammered their fingers as often as they 
did the wooden chisel. Presently Rodney stopped. 
Sitting back on his ankles, he caught Peter by the 
elbow and pulled him down beside him. “ That 
won’t work,” he whispered very softly. 

To the great amazement of both boys the words 
were hardly whispered before a bright circle of light 
fell on the chest in front of them. Each whirled 
around, only to be met with the glare of a pocket 
electric torch aimed at them from the other side of 
the thorn-bushes. Some one came pushing through 
the bushes and stood above them, the light still in 
their faces. 


A MESSENGER TO THE ENEMY 173 


Well, I swear ! ’’ some one exclaimed. If it 
ain’t two little rats nibbling at our old trunk ! ” The 
voice was the rather high and whining voice of 
Samuel Parry. 

There was nothing for the boys to do except await 
orders. Rodney was caught and he knew it. Doan 
came through the thorn-bushes, and took his stand 
beside Parry. 

“Ain’t they cute ? ” he said. “ Our young friend 
from the mainland, and one of those smarties who 
was camping out so innocent like.” 

Then his tone of voice changed, and was no 
longer easy bantering, but very indignant. “ What 
are you two doing here? What do you mean by 
trying to rob honest men in the middle of the night? ” 
Neither boy made any reply. There was nothing 
they could say. 

It was perfectly plain why they were where they 
were. Get up and come along ! ” ordered Parry. 
He kept his electric torch on the two boys as they 
got to their feet. 

“ Come along with me ! ” commanded Doan, and 
he retraced his steps through the bushes. 

Rodney and Peter were marched down to the 
beach, the circle of light playing on them. There was 
a small fire that the men had built early in the even- 
ing, and the boys were told to sit down near this. 

“As long as you waked me up, I reckon we might 
as well have a little chat,” said Doan. He took a 


174 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


pipe from his pocket, filled it, and lit it with a twig 
from the fire. 

‘"Turn off the light, Sam,’' Doan suggested. 

We can see each other right enough here.” Parry 
switched off his torch, and the two men sat down 
near the boys. 

Let’s see, what’s your name ? ” Doan asked 
Rodney. Rodney told him. ‘‘ How’d you and your 
two pals come to leave your place down there ? ” 
Doan next asked, nodding his head to the south. I 
suppose the other two are somewhere’s about.” 

We thought we’d like to take a little cruise, 
same as you did,” Rodney answered. 

Same’s we did,” repeated Doan. He began to 
chuckle, and then to laugh. My, my, but we’re all 
making a lot of mystery out of this ! ” he exclaimed. 
'' Playing a game of hide-and-seek, I should call it. 
First you thought we was coming ’round spying 
on you-all, and now it looks as if you-all was 
coming ’round to spy on we-all. They’re trying to 
turn the tables on us, Sam; that’s what they’re 
doing.” 

Doan continued chuckling, as if to indicate a 
desire to show his good nature. “ Now see here, Mr. 
Rodney Mason,” he said. The sea and these islands 
are free to all, so far as I’m concerned. We don’t 
mind your sailing up here, if you’ve got a mind to; 
but we didn’t come prowling ’round your camp in 
the middle of the night, trying to steal things from 


A MESSENGER TO THE ENEMY 175 


you; and so it don’t seem hardly right that you 
should come out here to prowl ’round us.” 

But you did steal something from us ! ” ex- 
claimed Rodney impetuously. 

“ Oh, no, we didn’t; no indeed,” Doan returned 
quickly. ‘‘We didn’t take nothing that, belonged to 
you. Findings is findings, you know. If I was to 
see an old lobster-pot floating out on the water, and 
it didn’t have any buoy, nor owner’s name. I’d have 
as good a right as another to pull it into my boat.” 

“ But that chest was on Mr. Blossom’s land,” 
Rodney maintained stoutly. 

“ That chest ! ” ejaculated Doan. “ Oh, you mean 
the old black box up there in the woods. What do 
you think of that, Sam? He thinks we stole our 
old box from his friend down there.” 

“ I know you did,” said Rodney. “ I saw it 
down there on our island, and I saw it up here 
to-night.” 

“ Well,” said Doan, “ what’s the use of our 
fighting over an old chest? I reckon Mr. Blossom 
can buy another easy enough, if he wants to.” 

“And I reckon he doesn’t have to buy another. 
If you’d stolen one of his chickens, he wouldn’t have 
to buy another, if he could find the one you had taken 
from him.” 

“ See here, young man,” declared Doan, “ I donT 
like the way you use that word stolen. My friend 
here and I are respectable gentlemen. What we’ve 


176 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


got is ours, and I don’t care to hear you say we stole 
it. Also, we mean to keep what we’ve got, and you 
might as well make up your mind to that.” 

He turned to Peter Calkins. Don’t you believe 
a word he says,” Doan went on. “ His friend Blos- 
som’s got a grudge against us; that’s all there is 
about it ; and now he’s keeping us all up most of the 
night. I reckon you’re pretty sleepy. There won’t 
be anything more doing till breakfast time, so you 
can roll up again and go to sleep.” 

He turned to Rodney. How’d you get over 
here? I don’t reckon you swum.” Rodney, feeling 
that he had already said too much, decided to keep 
his mouth shut. ‘‘ Oh, very well, you came in a 
boat then,” said Doan. This island ain’t so large 
that I can’t find the boat pretty quickly.” 

Keep your eye on the young cub, Sam, till I 
come back.” Doan walked off through the woods, 
leaving Rodney feeling very much like a prisoner just 
put in jail. He felt as if he had bungled his business 
badly. From time to time he glanced at Parry. The 
latter seemed to pay little attention to him, but sat 
pulling his moustache, and occasionally poking the 
embers of the fire. 

Some time later Doan paddled up to the beach in 
the small duck-boat. He pulled it up on the sand. 
‘‘ Now we’re all nice and comfortable,” he said as 
he rejoined the others. “ We’ve got an extra boat this 
way. It ain’t very long till morning now. I’ll just 


A MESSENGER TO THE ENEMY 177 


smoke my pipe and keep a lookout for any other 
callers. When I get tired, Fll wake you up, Sam, and 
we can stand watch like a regular boat’s crew. You 
two lads had better be getting your beauty sleep.” 

Peter climbed up to the long grass above the 
beach, and in a few minutes Rodney followed him. 
He knew that Doan meant to keep an eye on them 
the rest of the night. In spite of being a prisoner, 
he felt tremendously sleepy. Almost before he knew 
it, he had shut his eyes and was sound asleep. 


12 


XIV 

HARE AND HOUNDS 

Parry and Doan were at work on the motor- 
boat, using the tools that Peter Calkins had brought 
over to them. The little canvas duck-boat was 
drawn up on the shore close under their eyes, so that 
there would be no opportunity for any one to leave 
the island without their knowing it. They had waked 
early, and had shared a meagre breakfast with Rod- 
ney and Peter. Doan was talkative as usual, but he 
said nothing about the chest or the boys' pursuit of 
it. His talk was all of what should be done to the 
motor-boat to make it seaworthy again. 

Rodney was at first rather glum 2 ^ the prospect. 
Blackbeard’s chest might as well have been in China 
as where it was, so far as he was concerned. The 
slightest movement he made toward the thicket would 
be instantly noticed by Doan. If he could do nothing 
to recover the chest, however, he might at least see 
what he could do to get back to his friends, and this 
thought, together with breakfast, made him feel more 
lively. 

Peter seemed to regard the whole affair as a great 
spree. He went down to the beach and watched the 
two men while they worked on the flooring of the 
boat. After he had observed them for some time he 
joined Rodney, and the two strolled along the shore. 

178 


HARE AJSFD HOUNDS 


179 


Don't you get your feet wet," Doan called 
after them sarcastically. ‘‘ If you wait till we get 
this yacht of ours fixed, we’ll take you up north with 
us and land you somewheres." 

The boys went on without answering him, and 
presently came around the island to the place where 
Rodney had landed the night before. He could see 
the point opposite where the camp had been, but 
there was no sign of Tom or Stephen or Mr. Blossom. 

‘‘ I hate this being kept on the island," said Rod- 
ney. It makes me feel so shut in. " He looked 
at the stretch of water, not much more than a hun- 
dred yards wide. I’ve half a mind to try swim- 
ming across," he said. “Are you a pretty good 
swimmer, Pete ? " 

“ Reckon I am," said the other boy. “ I’ve 
swum that far lots of times; but I didn’t have my 
clothes on." He glanced up and down the stretch 
of water. “ There’s a shoal out there, about two- 
thirds the way across. We could touch bottom there, 
the water ain’t more than two or three feet deep." 

“ I wonder," said Rodney, “ if we couldn’t man- 
age to carry our clothes on our backs. They don’t 
weigh much, and we could strap them ’round our 
shoulders by the belts. I’ve half a mind to try it." 

The idea evidently appealed to Peter, too. He 
dipped his finger in the water. It wasn’t very cold, 
and looked exceedingly tempting for a swim. “ I’ve 


180 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


gone farther than that lots of times,” said he. "‘Come 
along, ril show you the way to that sand-flat.” 

With their clothing rolled into tight bundles like 
knap-sacks, and fastened to their shoulders by Rod- 
ney’s leather belt and the heavy cord that took the 
place of a belt in Peter’s costume, the two boys waded 
into the water and struck out for the shoal. They 
were both good swimmers, and the weight of the 
clothes made little difference to them. Peter headed 
for the sand-flat, and when he reached it stood up 
and rested his arms and legs. A minute later Rodney 
stood beside him. They looked back at the island; 
but there was no sign of either Doan or Parry. Evi- 
dently it had never entered the head of either man 
that the boys would think of swimming to the 
mainland. 

When they were somewhat rested they started 
out from the shoal and presently reached the main- 
land. They waded ashore, and sat down to dry off 
in the sun. “ Pretty good idea, that,” said Rodney, 
beaming. “ Won’t they be surprised when they find 
we’re gone ? ” 

The bundles of clothes were unrolled and hung 
on the bushes ; then while these dried the boys poked 
about to locate the camp. They found it was close 
to the place where they had landed. No one was on 
watch, however. In fact there was no evidence of 
any one having camped there, except for the boughs 
that had been used as beds. 


HARE AND HOUNDS 


181 


When they got back to the shore they found 
their clothes were at least partly dry. They got 
into them and set off southward. There was no 
sign of ‘‘ The Wild Goose ” in the creek, and they 
went on till they came to Calkins’ Cove, and there 
they saw the rest of the party, and also the fisherman, 
his wife and daughter. Rodney gave a whoop. Ki- 
yi ! ” he yelled. ‘‘ Scouts ahoy ! We’ve escaped 
from the pirates ! ” 

The group at the harbor looked ’round in amaze- 
ment. 

How on earth did you get here? ” cried Tom. 

‘‘ Swam across ! ” shouted Rodney. The two ran 
up to the group, holding out their wet sleeves as 
evidence of what they had done. “ But we had to 
leave the duck-boat over there,” Rodney explained. 

Want to hear the story? ” he asked. 

Go ahead,” said Tom. When we found you 
didn’t come back we decided to tell Mr. and Mrs. 
Calkins just what had happened. They know all 
about what we’re doing now.” 

“ So do I,” spoke up Eliza-Jane, and if Pete 
can help you, I don’t see why you don’t let me too.” 

Now you know you oughtn’t to talk like that, 
Eliza-Jane,” said Mrs. Calkins. '' Lord knows I’ve 
plenty of work for you to do right here, and besides 
that you’re a girl.” 

“ I reckon I’m as strong as Pete,” said Eliza-Jane. 
“ I can handle a boat as good as any one.” 


182 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


You can that/' agreed her father, nodding his 
approval of his flushed-faced daughter. “ You’re 
the smartest one of the family; excepting your ma, 
of course," he added, with a sly smile at his sharp- 
featured wife. 

Well, this is what happened," said Rodney, 
sitting down cross-legged on the ground. He gave 
an account of how he had found the iron chest and 
tried to open it, but had been caught in the act. ‘‘And 
they are working on the old ‘ Sea Serpent ' now," he 
finished. “ Then they’ll get the chest on board again 
and scoot away with it." 

“ Why don’t we go over there and take it from 
them?" Eliza-Jane said, evidently wishing to have 
an active share in whatever was done. “ They’re 
only two, and there’s seven of us." 

“ You see," said Mr. Blossom, shaking his head, 
“ it’s a delicate situation. Possession is nine points 
of the law, you know. They won’t give it up if we 
demand it, and I don’t like to take it from them by 
force, if we can help it. We can’t prove that they 
got the chest from my island." 

“ Well, I should think that was as clear as any- 
thing could be," protested Stephen. 

“ Yes, we know it is,” said Mr. Blossom, “but 
we can’t positively prove it. We didn’t see them 
take it. All we know is that the two chests look 
just alike, and that they were hunting where we 
found it.’’ 


HARE AND HOUNDS 


183 


You mean we ought to snatch it away from 
them, as they snatched it from us,” said Rodney. 

“ That’s the idea ; without a fist-fight over it,^’ 
said Mr. Blossom. 

’Pears to me,” said Mr. Calkins, that’s going 
to be a mighty hard proposition. They won’t give 
it up; and they won’t let it out of their sight most 
likely. What’s to hinder them from taking it up to 
Charleston if they please.” 

** We’ve got to hinder them somehow,” said Tom 
positively. “ It’s our treasure, and I don’t mean 
to let them get it.” 

‘^And while we’re talking here they may have 
got their boat all fixed,” said Eliza-Jane. I’m 
going out to keep an eye on them.” She walked 
down to the boats in the little cove, climbed into 
the row-boat, and picked up the oars. 

I’m going too,” said Stephen, and he ran down 
to the row-boat and stepped into the bow. “ Let 
me have one of the oars,” he said. 

The girl handed one to him, and the two started 
to pull out of the cove. 

Peter and I’ll go in that old tub of mine 
yonder,” said Mr. Calkins, pointing to a fishing-boat 
on the sand. 

‘‘ And the rest will take to * The Wild Goose,’ ” 
Tom announced. Now we’ve got a fleet of three 
ships. We’ll swoop down on the island and see 
what’s happening there.” 


184 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Well, rd rather stay on dry land,” said Mrs. 
Calkins. “ I don’t go hunting pirate’s gold when 
there’s cooking to be done.” With a wave of her 
hand she went up the path to her house. Then the 
three boats set out from the harbor, Eliza-Jane and 
Stephen pulling at their oars sturdily, Mr. Calkins 
standing up in the stern of his boat, and sculling it 
along by the skilful use of an oar, and “ The Wild 
Goose ” quickly passing the other two, and leaving a 
rippling wake behind. 

The flotilla reached the western side of Cow 
Island and headed toward the northern point. '' The 
Wild Goose ” had naturally taken the lead, owing 
to its greater speed. Peter, running up the sail on 
his boat, kept going at a good clip. But the two 
in the little row-boat found themselves quickly out- 
distanced. The sun was pretty warm. Stephen 
looked over his shoulder at the boats ahead of him. 

“ I don’t see what’s their hurry,” he declared. 

The men couldn’t get away from here without 
our seeing them now. Let’s take it easy.” He 
pulled in his oars, and so Eliza-Jane had to stop 
rowing also, unless she wished to spin the boat 
around from her side. Stephen let his hands drag 
in the water — a very pleasant feeling on a hot day. 
‘‘ You’re a pretty good rower for a girl,” he said to 
his companion. I suppose Peter taught you how.” 

'' I always knew how,” she answered. Folks 
who live by the water naturally take to knowing how 


HARE AND HOUNDS 


185 


to row/’ She turned on her seat, and surveyed him 
calmly, though her freckled nose, tilted at an angle, 
made Stephen suspect she was a little sarcastic. “You 
row pretty well yourself,” said she. “ and I don’t 
understand how you came to know how. Did they 
teach you at your school in Charleston? ” 

Stephen drew his right hand out of the water, 
and flipped the drops from his fingers toward the 
end of his oar. “ Most of the things I know I didn’t 
learn in school,” he answered. “ That is, most of 
the useful things, I mean.” 

Eliza- Jane rested her chin in the palm of her 
hand. “ What I want to learn is un-useful things,” 
she said. “ Seems as if we naturally picked up the 
other things somehow.” 

“ What do you mean by that ? ” Stephen de- 
manded, interested in spite of himself at this original 
girl. 

“ Oh, I mean about pictures, and music, and such 
things,” said Eliza-Jane. “And all they teach me at 
school is reading, writing, and arithmetic.” 

“ Hum,” mused Stephen. “ What good would 
learning those other things do you? I know a boy 
who has to take violin lessons, and I think he’s just 
about the dumbest boy in our town. I suppose, 
though,” he went on very meditatively, “ girls like 
music naturally more than boys do. The great 
musicians always have long hair, and girls’ hair’s 
much longer than boys’.” He grinned mischievously 


186 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


as he surveyed Eliza-Jane’s long pig-tail. I reckon 
you ought to be musical with so much of it.” 

She was on the point of scooping some water in 
her hand and splashing it over her teasing companion 
when the boat gently swung its bow against a rock. 

This unexpected bump was enough to make 
Stephen lose his seat and sprawl in the bottom of the 
boat. Eliza- Jane quickly shoved out her oar and 
pulled the boat away, then she turned and smiled 
serenely at Stephen. 

“ That’s what happens to folks that make fun 
of others,” she said. “ You’d better get your oar 
out, or we’ll drift ashore.” 

Stephen, a little ashamed of his position, hastily 
took his seat and rowed again. Why, the other 
two boats are out of sight,” he said. We’d better 
hurry, or we’ll miss the party.” 

Meantime The Wild Goose ” had rounded the 
northern end and was slowly making southward. 
Mr. Blossom kept some distance from land, but the 
boys could see that Doan and Parry were still at work 
on their motor-boat. “ The Wild Goose,” like a 
patrolship, went down the coast and around the 
southern point. Some distance back of her came the 
sail-boat with Peter at the helm, and by the time the 
first two of the fleet had made a complete circuit of 
the island the row-boat, pulled by a red-faced boy 
and girl, came along the shore fairly near to the two 
men. Doan looked up from his work. ‘‘Hello!” 


HARE AND HOUNDS 187 

he called, waving his hand to the boat. Out for a 
little paddle ? ’’ 

Hello ! ” Stephen returned. In a whisper he 
added, I’d like to paddle him, the old thief ! ” 

‘‘If you want to land here, don’t mind us,” Doan 
continued. “ We ain’t selfish about this here island. 
There might be some nice places to picnic up under 
the trees.” 

“I like the other man belter,” muttered Eliza- 
Jane. “ Look at him now ; he’s pulling his long black 
moustache; and somehow he’s got a wild look like a 
pirate ought to have.” 

“ I reckon he’s a deep thinker,” Stephen whis- 
pered back. “ He doesn’t say much. There’s some- 
thing about that other fellow that always makes me 
want to talk back to him, and then I get in wrong.” 
He waved his hand. “ We don’t want to land there,” 
he called back. “ There’s plenty of islands around 
here for everybody.” 

“ It don’t seem so,” said Doan jeeringly, “ con- 
sidering the way we keep meetin’ up with each 
other.” 

Again the girl and boy rowed on, and presently 
joined the other boats, south of Cow Island. The 
trip had only assured them that the men were still 
there. Stephen paddled back and forth around the 
other two boats ; then he suddenly gave an exclama- 
tion. “ They’ve started off ! ” he cried. “ Look 
there, they’re out in their boat, going north.” 


188 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


“ Sure enough, they’re off again ! ” cried Rodney. 
‘‘ Time to hit the trail ! ” 

‘‘ Then,” said Tom, ‘‘ I guess we’re done camp- 
ing here. There’s no knowing how far up the coast 
they’ll go. Stephen, you come aboard, and Mr. 
Calkins can tow the row-boat back to the cove.” 

Peter and his sister looked regretful at the idea 
of losing the fun of the chase, but as there was no 
telling how far' it might lead, it was clear they 
would have to leave their new friends. 

Stephen climbed into ‘‘ The Wild Goose,” and 
Eliza-Jane got into the sail-boat, “holding the painter 
of the row-boat in her hand. “ We’ll come and tell 
you all about it when we’ve got the chest,” Stephen 
called out. “ Good-by.” He waved his hand, and 
the boy and the girl in the other boat waved back. 

Then began a run up shore, in which, The Wild 
Goose ” had to go slowly, in order to avoid overtak- 
ing the rather unwieldy ‘‘ Sea Serpent.” The treas- 
ure-seekers’ plan was still to keep an eye on the 
others, rather than to come to a fight with them. Per- 
haps Doan and Parry realized this, for they seemed 
to make no great attempt at speed, and chugged along 
at an easy rate most of the afternoon. 

The sun set, and beautiful opal colors shone in 
sky and sea before “ The Sea Serpent ” turned her 
course inland. 

“ I guess she’s started to leak again,” suggested 
Tom. 


HARE AND HOUNDS 


189 


'' Suppose they keep this up — stopping leaks and 
patching their boat up, all the way to Charleston,” 
said Rodney. ‘‘ It looks as if we might get left after 
all.” 

‘‘ I’d hate to have them get to Charleston with 
the chest,” said Stephen. I don’t see how we’d 
ever get it away from them then.” 

Well, they’re not there yet,” counselled Mr. 
Blossom. We must keep our eyes wide open, and 
see if we can’t find a chance to steal it back from 
them.” 

The Sea Serpent ” came to land on a point jut- 
ting out in the sea. ‘‘ The Wild Goose ” turned 
shoreward a little south of this point and ran along 
the coast. Investigation showed that the point where 
the men had landed was almost cut off from the main- 
land by a narrow neck. The Wild Goose ” landed, 
and her crew got out. In the twilight they could 
see the shine of the water across a short stretch of 
sand-dunes and bushes. 

I think we might camp here,” said Tom. They 
can’t go by us on the land side. We’ll have them 
shut off here, and then we’ll only have to watch the 
water side.” 

The boat was made fast and the stock of pro- 
visions taken up to the sand-dunes. Supper was 
eaten and a protected shelter found where they could 
make a comfortable camp. Then the four chose 
watches by drawing blades of grass. Each in turn 


190 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


was to stand guard in the motor-boat, using the 
oars instead of the motor, and keep a watch to see 
that the two men didn’t leave their point before 
dawn. The first watch fell to Tom. At eleven 
o’clock he was to wake Rodney, who would keep 
the watch till two o’clock ; then Mr. Blossom would 
be on duty till five; and after that Stephen until 
time for breakfast. 

All but Tom made comfortable nests in the dunes. 
Tom pushed The Wild Goose ” out from the shore, 
and picking up the oars, slowly sent her over the 
water. Drifting, and occasionally paddling noise- 
lessly, he patrolled the coast off the point. There 
were no sounds from the place where Doan and Parry 
had landed. Sometimes he heard a crane or heron 
squaking inland, but except for this and the slapping 
of waves against the boat the night was very still. So,' 
like a blockader watching for runners who might try 
to evade his net, he patrolled the point. At eleven 
o’clock he landed and woke Rodney, and so off and 
on the crew of four kept watch all that night. 


XV 


BLACKBEARD’S CHEST 

It was Stephen who caught the first signs of 
activity on the point of land. He had been floating 
about in “ The Wild Goose ’’ for almost an hour, 
watching the stars pale as the earliest light of dawn 
began to creep up from the horizon. Away out to tlie 
east the ocean commenced to brighten, and as he 
watched he saw sea and shore grow more and more 
clear, almost as if a veil of fog were being lifted by 
the bright sunshine. 

He had let the boat drift some distance down 
shore when he first became conscious of motion on 
the point. The beach there formed a scallop, and 
it looked to Stephen as if the two figures were digging 
in the sand near the base of a pine that stood up 
high above its fellows. He didn’t wish to be seen, 
and so he didn’t attempt to row the boat any nearer. 
He watched the two as best he could, and then when 
they walked inland, he dipped his oars in the water 
and pulled slowly down shore, still keeping watch to 
see that neither Doan nor Parry left the point. If 
they did leave, it would have to be by water, since 
the rest of the party were camping directly across the 
narrow neck of land. 

It was clear daylight when Stephen turned The 

191 


192 


BLACKBEAED’S ISLAND 


Wild Goose ” about and headed back to camp. Keep- 
ing close to the shore, and dipping the oars into the 
water as lightly as possible, he felt pretty sure that 
the men would not see him. In this way he came to 
the neck, where he found the others all ready for 
breakfast. 

“Well,” said Tom, as Stephen landed, “what 
have you to report ? Are our two friends still on the 
point? ” 

“Aye, aye, sir,” answered Stephen, touching his 
hat in salute. “ They’re still there, and we can see 
them from here if they try to leave in the daytime. 
Give me something to eat; I’m hungry as a bear.” 

Provisions were beginning to run low, but they 
still had some hard-boiled eggs, and cold corn-bread 
that they had bought from Mrs. Calkins, and some 
deviled chicken, jam, and a bottle of spring water, 
that had been among the stores brought from Mr. 
Blossom’s house. With these they managed to 
make a good breakfast, and were just putting the 
bottle of water back into the forward compartment 
of the motor-boat, when Rodney gave a muttered 
exclamation. 

“ Look there ! ” said he. “ They’re going south, 
instead of north! What do you make of that?” 
The others turned to look. The old “ Sea Serpent,” 
with Mr. Blossom’s duck-boat bobbing along some 
little distance to the rear, was laboring over the 
water in a south-easterly direction. 


BLACKBEARD’S CHEST 


193 


‘‘ I thought surely they’d be taking the chest to 
Charleston! ” Tom exclaimed. Do you think they 
can be going back to Beaufort with it? ” 

Search me,” said Mr. Blossom, shrugging his 
shoulders. From the way that motor-boat spits 
and wallows in the waves, it looks as if they might 
be going to dump the chest in the sea.” 

'' There’s only one thing to do now,” said Tom, 
and that’s to keep on the trail. If they’re going 
back to Beaufort, I guess we’d better be going back 
too. 

So The Wild Goose ” was started, and sailed by 
the point of land where the men had camped over- 
night, and then to the south-east in the wake of the 
other boat. If Mr. Blossom had driven her fast, 
she would soon have overtaken the wallowing Sea 
Serpent,” but as he had no wish to do that, unless 
The Sea Serpent ” were actually in danger of 
foundering, he kept well to the rear waiting to see 
what the others would do. 

This sudden change in tactics mystified the crew 
of The Wild Goose.” Why should Doan and Parry 
be going south instead of up to Charleston? Tom 
asked the question why, if their boat was unsea- 
worthy, had they not landed and taken to the road ? 
And he answered his own question by saying that 
the chest was undoubtedly much too heavy to be 
carried, and they had had no chance to get a team to 
transport it. If they got safely into Beaufort with 
13 


194 


BLACKBEAKD’S ISLAND 


it, what could the rightful owners do then? Mr. 
Blossom suggested that he would go to a Justice of 
the Peace and have Doan and Parry arrested on the 
charge of stealing something found on his land. But 
it seemed hardly likely that the two men would walk 
into such a trap. If they were going to Beaufort 
they must have some plan by which they saw an 
opportunity to make sure of the chest’s contents for 
themselves. 

Such speculations filled the time while The Wild 
Goose ” bobbed along on the track of “ The Sea 
Serpent.” They were retracing their course of the 
afternoon before. Presently Cow Island came in 
sight and beyond it the shores of Calkins’ Cove. 
Then, to the surprise of the pursuers, The Sea 
Serpent ” ran up to the beach on Cow Island and 
came to a stop just about the place from which she 
had started the day before. 

They must be pretty fond of their old camping- 
ground,” said Stephen. 

‘‘ No,” said Mr. Blossom, '' I was Watching that . 
boat pretty closely, and I think she’s sprung a leak 
again. I believe they thought they couldn’t get any 
farther in her.’ 

Let’s run up close by,” said Tom, ‘‘ and ask if 
we can help them out with our boat. I’d rather have 
a talk with them than keep up chasing them at such a 
long distance.” 

“ There’s something in that,” Henry Blossom 


BLACKBEARD’S CHEST 


195 


agreed, and he sent his boat swiftly up to the shore, 
and brought it to a stop some fifty yards away from 
the men on the beach. 

Tom stood up. Hi there ! ’’ he called. '' Want 
any help? Has your boat sprung a leak ? Want us 
to come in and tow you somewhere ? ” 

The two men on the beach looked at the speaker, 
but made no answer. They were untying the rope 
that held the duck-boat to The Sea Serpent’s ’’ stern. 

What do you think they’d do if we dashed in 
and tried to take the chest ? ” asked Stephen. 

I don’t know,” said Mr. Blossom, but I guess 
they’ve each got a gun; and I wouldn’t like to run 
the risk of coming to a fight with them.” 

Seems as if we ought to do something,” put in 
Rodney. There they are with Blackbeard’s treas- 
ure, and here we are who own it, and we can’t take 
it from them. Seems as if we ought to think up 
some way to do it.” 

Before they had thought up any way, however, 
the men on shore settled the matter. They had 
pulled the duck-boat up the beach, and now got into 
it, and Doan, picking up the* double-paddle, sent the 
little canvas barge skimming out over the water. 

Well, I declare ! ” exclaimed Stephen, ‘‘ they 
must have thought we were going to pounce on 
them!” 

'' But what,” demanded Tom, hav^ they done 

with the chest? 


196 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


The duck-boat was speeding away. The Sea 
Serpent ” lay slightly tilted to one side on the beach. 
Mr. Blossom sent his boat quickly up shore, and 
in a minute the boys were over the side, wading to 
'' The Sea Serpent.’’ They caught at the gunwale and 
looked over the side. There in the motor-boat stood 
the old chest, its iron cover very rusty in the bright 
sunlight. 

Tom sprang on board and gripped the battered 
metal cover. It still stuck as it had when they first 
discovered it. We’ve got to hammer it off,” he 
said. ‘‘ Let’s take it over to the cove and get what 
we need there.” 

'' I’ll tow it over,” said Mr. Blossom. It’ll only 
take us a few minutes that way.” 

He brought his boat close up to the other ; a rope 
was fastened between them, he started his motor, 
and ‘‘ The Wild Goose ” chugged away, pulling “ The 
Sea Serpent ” with its three passengers behind it. 
The second boat leaked badly. Water came up about 
the base of the chest. But the distance to Calkins’ 
Cove was short, and ten minutes later both boats were 
in the little harbor there. Tom ran up to the fisher- 
man’s house to get a hammer and chisel, and he came 
back accompanied by Eliza-Jane and Peter. 

“ The Sea Serpent ” was brought close to shore, 
oars were put under the chest, and by the united 
efforts of the party the chest was lifted out of the boat 
and rolled up on the beach. The lock had already 



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THE DUCK-BOAT WAS SPEEDING AWAY 






I 


BLACKBEARD’S CHEST 


197 


been broken. All they had to do now was to pry up 
the edges of the lid and force it back on its hinges. 
This they did in short order. The edges bulged out ; 
another blow from the hammer, and the lid came off 
with a crash. 

The chest was empty, except for two small dis- 
colored disks that lay on the bottom. 

“Great guns!’’ exclaimed Tom. “Is that all 
Blackboard hid ? ” 

Stephen picked up the two disks. They were 
two coins of a dull glitter. He held them out on his 
palm so the others might see. “ Two measley gold 
pieces ! ” he said in great disgust. 

“ But they are guineas ! ” said Mr. Blossom, 
picking one up and looking at it closely. “ There’s 
the head of George I stamped on them.” 

The two coins, the solitary contents of such a 
large chest, seemed actually to mock at the three 
young explorers. It was clear, however, that there 
must have been more than these in the treasure-box, 
or no one would ever have gone to the trouble of 
hiding it so carefully on Blackbeard’s Island. The 
two pieces of gold were only evidence that many 
more like them must once have filled the chest. 

Even the faces of Peter and Eliza-Jane shared 
the disappointment to be seen on the faces of the 
three scouts. 

“At least these two are very fine coins,” said 
Mr. Blossom, holding them on his palm, “ and they 


198 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


prove that somebody did actually hide money on that 
island way back before the Revolution. What shall 
we do with them ? ’’ 

“ Put them in your pocket, please,^’ said Tom. 
He was evidently not nearly so much interested in 
the coins from a collector’s point of view as from 
that of a baffled hunter. 

Tom was twisting his pet lock of hair, Rodney 
kicking the iron chest vindictively, Stephen staring 
at the water of the cove, while Eliza-Jane was watch- 
ing Mr. Blossom, and Peter was tossing pebbles into 
the cover of the chest. 

“And those two fellows have made off at last,” 
said Tom, in a slow, rumbling voice, “ leaving us to 
find the old box empty. But I didn’t see them take 
anything out of the motor-boat, and put it in the 
duck-boat, and yet they must have had the treasure 
with them.” 

No one ventured a reply. 

Peter landed a large stone in the open cover, and 
his sister instantly nudged him with her elbow, and 
told him not to make so much noise. Mr. Blossom 
was looking out over the water. The canvas-covered 
duck-boat had already disappeared. “And goodness 
knows where the two are by this time,” Tom went on 
in a more ruminating way. “ They may have landed 
anywhere, or they may be half-way back to Beaufort. 
If we’d only had sense enough to have kept one eye 
on them, while we kept the other on the chest.” 


BLACKBEARD’S CHEST 


199 


“ Pretty hard on one pair of eyes to stretch them 
as far as that/’ muttered Rodney. 

Eliza- Jane gave a chuckle, but quickly suppressed 
it, realizing that this wasn’t a time for idle laughter. 

‘‘ If they’re still paddling the duck-boat,” said 
Mr. Blossom, I eould pick them up in * The Wild 
Goose ; ’ they couldn’t get far away in so short a 
time.” 

“ But suppose they’ve landed meantime ? ” said 
Tom. He twisted his pet lock until it stood up like a 
horn, a sign that he was thinking deeply. What 
I don’t understand,” said he, “ is this. We didn’t 
see them talce anything out of the motor-boat and 
put it in the duck-boat, and we were watching pretty 
closely. Now, if they had a lot of treasure they 
wouldn’t have been apt to tow it along behind them 
in the duck-boat all the way out to Cow Island.” 

“ You can’t tell what a fellow like Doan would 
do,” suggested Rodney. He’d do most anything to 
other people’s things.” 

Stephen abruptly broke into the conversation. 
‘‘ They may have landed somewhere down along the 
coast,” he said, or they may be still on the water. 
I’d like to try out an idea of mine.” 

Come down to dots with it,” said Rodney. 

What’s the good of keeping us guessing.” 

It may be all wrong,” said Stephen; “ but then 
it may be all right.” 

'' Oh, rats,” said Rodney. What the dickens 


£00 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


is it? Rodney looked openly scornful, and all the 
rest seemed very little concerned with Stephen’s 
notion. 

Eliza-Jane, however, perhaps because she realized 
from experience that Stephen was a bold and original 
thinker, stepped nearer to him and said, I reckon 
your idea’s as likely to be right as anybody else’s.” 

These were kind words, but Stephen paid no 
attention to them. “ It won’t take us long to find 
out, anyhow,” said he. '' Will you do as I tell you? ” 

Rodney gave the chest a resounding kick. He 
didn’t approve of Stephen’s being so secretive with 
his ideas. 

'' I suppose we might as well,” said Tom. 

“ Go ahead,” said Mr. Blossom, smiling. ‘‘ I’m 
willing to take orders from Captain Stephen.” 

First, I want to get a thick sack, a good big. 
one ; an old flour-bag would do. Have you got such 
a thing? ” he demanded, turning to Eliza-Jane. 

There ought to be some in the shed back of 
the house,” she answered. Come along while I 
look.” At almost the same minute Mrs. Calkins 
appeared on her , porch and rang the dinner-bell. 
‘‘ You-all might as well have some food before you 
go,” the girl added hastily. You can’t get along 
without eating, you know.” 

Stephen cared little enough about food while he 
was on the trail of his new idea; but the others 
accepted the invitation quickly. They trooped into 


BLACKBEARD’S CHEST 


201 


Mrs. Calkins’ combined kitchen and dining-room, 
and ate hastily. Then Stephen and Eliza- Jane went 
out to the shed and found an old meal-bag that 
Stephen said would suit his purpose. This he took 
down to the cove and filled with small stones and 
pebbles from the beach. When it was filled it made 
a heavy weight, and took the combined efforts of 
the three scouts and Peter to lift it into Mr. Blos- 
som’s motor-boat. 

What will we do with the old chest?” said 
Tom, when they had their cargo on board, and were 
ready to depart. 

'' We might give it to a museum,” said Rodney. 

It isn’t so much to look at,” explained Tom, 
though he eyed the old iron box affectionately. ‘‘ But 
pirates owned it once, and that ought to make it 
interesting, seems to me.” 

“ I vote we give it to Eliza-Jane,” said Stephen. 
“ I guess she’d appreciate it as much as anyone 
would.” He intended this as a compliment, but he 
said it in a brusque, off-hand way, so that she might 
not feel that he intended any flattery. Perhaps 
she could keep things in it,” he added vaguely. 

Rodney chuckled. She might charge admission 
to see it. Put a sign on it, ' Blackbeard’s Chest,’ and 
make everybody pay a nickel for a look at it.” 

But Eliza-Jane, in spite of’ Rodney’s chuckling, 
seemed really pleased at the suggestion that she 
should keep the pirate’s chest. '' I’ll look after it 


202 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


for you/’ she said, speaking to Stephen more than 
to the others, and perhaps some day you’ll all 
come back and take another look at it.” 

'' That’s a good idea,” said Tom, “ and I vote 
that we give Eliza-Jane one of those two guineas; 
then she’ll have something better than the old box 
to remember us by.” 

Mr. Blossom took one of the gold pieces out of 
his pocket, and handed it to the girl, who flushed 
and looked very much pleased. 

‘‘ Thank you very much,” she said, but I didn’t 
need this to remember you by. I hope his idea 
works out all right.” She nodded her head at 
Stephen. 

The crew climbed on board ‘‘ The Wild Goose.” 
Peter waded out into the water and gave the boat a 
push ; Mr. Blossom started his engine ; and the boat 
swung her bow around toward the entrance of the 
cove. As the four sailed out into the ocean they 
looked back and saw Peter still standing in the 
water, and Eliza-Jane sitting on the shut cover of 
Blackbeard’s treasure-chest clutching the gold piece 
tight in one hand, while she waved the other hand 
to them. 


XVI 


PIRATE GOLD 

The middle of that same afternoon saw The 
Wild Goose drawn close to the point of land where 
Doan and Parry had camped the night before. 
Stephen had not yet explained the purpose of his re- 
turn to that region of pines and sand, but had simply 
asked Mr. Blossom to bring the boat inshore and 
make a landing there. That done, he asked Rodney 
to give him a hand with the bag of pebbles, which 
they heaved over on to the beach. 

I don’t see what in thunder you want with 
that great white elephant of a meal-bag,” snorted 
Rodney. “If it’s just for exercise in throwing it 
about, I’d rather take mine in pulling chest-weights, 
they’re lots easier to manage.” Stephen didn’t deign 
to answer. He only rubbed his arm thoughtfully, 
while he took a good look at the shore. 

The seaward side of this point of land was only 
some thirty yards in length, and was screened at 
each end by a thick grove of pines. This had made a 
sheltered retreat where Doan and Parry had naturally 
enough supposed themselves invisible to any ob- 
server up or down the shore. The beach was shallow 
and covered with small stones. It shelved up into 
low sand-dunes, which rose to a height of perhaps 

203 


204 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


three feet before they joined the level surface of the 
high ground. Near the northern end of these dunes 
stood a tall pine tree, some of its roots being ex- 
posed in the sand, while others were in the firmer 
ground. Stephen looked carefully at this part of 
the beach, and then made a cross with his toe close 
to the visible roots of this pine. 

There,'' said he, “ that's just about the place." 

The others had watched him with the greatest 
interest. 

What are you giving us? " demanded Rodney 
‘‘ Is this another one of Blackbeard's hiding-places? 
Or have you got on the track of some other old 
rascal who hid his property where nobody could find 
it? " Again Stephen didn’t condescend to make any 
answer ; instead he knelt down and began scooping up 
the loose stones and sand with his hands. 

“ How’d you happen to pick out this particular 
spot? " Tom asked. There don't seem to be any 
signs around here that mark it off from the rest of 
the shore." 

“ Remember, Stephen, the coast-line's changed 
since Blackbeard’s day," put in Mr. Blossom, smiling. 

“ Well, I don’t mind helping hunt," said Tom, 
and he crouched beside Stephen, and likewise began 
to dig with his hands and throw sand and stones to 
one side. 

“ Might think we were woodchucks burrowing 
for a hole,’’ said Rodney, as he joined the other two. 


PIRATE GOLD 


205 


Then Mr. Blossom got on his knees, and the four 
of them sent the sand flying. 

Ten minutes of this, and Stephen stopped. His 
fingers had struck something. 

“ Look,” he muttered. 

The others bent over the spot where he had been 
digging, and saw what looked like a piece of brown 
burlap. 

You’ve struck something sure,” said Rodney, 
“ though it might as well be part of an old sail as 
anything else.” 

“ It’s not an old sail,” Stephen announced posi- 
tively. He dug in with his fingers again, and shortly 
had uncovered a good deal more of the burlap. 

‘‘You’ll be breaking your finger-nails at that 
rate,” said Tom. “ Let me have a try at it now.” 
Tom dug for a while, then Rodney, and then Mr. 
Blossom. The burlap seemed to form a large sack, 
and it took considerable time and labor to get the 
sand away from it. At last, however, there was 
space enough for them to pull the burlap sack about 
little by little, and in this way they were able to get 
it nearly free. When they had all dug until their 
fingers were sore and stiff, they stood up and looked 
at the bag. 

“ I reckon we might be able to pull it out if we 
could all get at it together,” said Stephen. “ Let’s 
have a try.” 

Again the four dug their fingers in around the 


206 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


bag, and with a great *deal of tugging and pushing 
finally hauled the heavy sack up to the level of the 
beach. They dragged it out on the sand. 

Funny,” said Mr. Blossom, standing up. ‘‘ That 
bag doesn’t look as if it had been in the sand long. 
I should think it would be much more damp.” 

It hasn’t been there long,” said Stephen mys- 
teriously. ■ He took his jack-knife from his pocket 
and stooped over the sack. 

The bag was tied with a heavy string, just as a 
meal-bag is tied. Cutting through this string opened 
the neck of the sack. Stephen dropped his knife on 
the sand, and taking the loose ends of the burlap 
spread them out. The others, looking over his 
shoulder, saw what was inside. That was nothing 
less than round pieces of dull gold, just like the two 
they had found in the chest. 

“ Hello ! ” cried Mr. Blossom. You’ve found 
it at last, Steve, my boy ! ” 

Tom gave a long whistle. ''Right-o!” he 
shouted. “ It’s the money, sure enough ! ” 

“ By golly ! ” sang out Rodney. '‘And to think 
we’ve found it after all this time ! ” 

Stephen pushed the sack on to its side, and then 
carefully poured its contents on the beach. They 
were gold pieces, some fairly bright, some very dull, 
but all unmistakably of the same coinage as the two 
others that bore the head of King George I. There 
dQg^ns of th^m, scQr^§ gf th^m^ a hviildre4 of 


PIRATE GOLD 


207 


them, perhaps two hundred. As Stephen emptied 
them all out and held up the empty sack, the pile 
of gold had a strange look, as if it belonged indeed to 
the days of Blackbeard, rather than to the present 
time. There was a few minutes’ silence while they 
all stared at the heap of coins. 

Hardly seems real, does it? ” said Tom. Then 
dropping on his knees he ran his fingers through the 
gold pieces. 

“ I never thought there was any treasure,” said 
Rodney. “ I thought all the time that chest was just 
a joke, and when we found it empty I was sure of it. 
Whew, but there’s a lot of money there ! Think of 
old Blackbeard stealing all that from people in 
Charleston ! ” 

Perhaps from Mrs. Pinckney’s great-great- 
great-grandfather,” Stephen added. 

It was a lot of money for those days,” said Mr. 
Blossom. Let’s see how much of it there is.” 

They squatted on the shore and began to count. 
They made the coins into piles of ten; and found that 
there were twenty of these piles with half-a-dozen 
coins over. 

'' Two hundred and six guineas,” Stephen an- 
nounced. How much would that make ? ” 

guinea was worth twenty-one shillings in the 
old days,” said Mr. Blossom. They don’t make 
that coin now. Twenty shillings make a pound, 
which is about five dollars. So there must be quite a 


208 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


little more than a thousand dollars’ worth of coins 
there!” 

They had been so much concerned with their 
search and their discovery that they had not noticed 
that the sun had set. Twilight was coming over the 
ocean. Tom looked out at the water. There was no 
sail in sight. It was clear neither they nor the treas- 
ure had been seen. 

‘‘ I reckon this bag’s strong enough to hold them,” 
said Stephen; and, with Rodney’s help, he shoveled 
the gold back into the burlap sack. 

Now tell us how you ever managed to think of 
this place? ” said Tom. I don’t see how you ever 
hit on it.” 

Stephen grinned. He was very much flattered at 
the admiration for his skill reflected in the faces of 
his cousins and Mr. Blossom. 

Well, you know I stood watch in the boat early 
this morning,” he explained. I was drifting about 
a good ways off-shore when I saw our two friends 
from Beaufort working here on the beach. It looked 
to me as if they were digging near the base of this 
tall pine. I didn’t think much about it, and I rowed 
away, so they shouldn’t see me; but when we found 
the chest empty, it struck me all at once that they 
might have played a trick on us. I thought they 
might have taken out the treasure and hid it here, 
and then left the chest for us to find on Cow Island. 
They might have thought we’d take it back to Mr. 


PIRATE GOLD 


209 


Blossom’s house and open it there. If we did, that 
would leave them with a free field here, and when we 
were well away they could come back and dig up the 
bag. I’m sure that’s what they were planning to do, 
only they meant to give us plenty of time to get out 
of the way before they came back.” 

“ I shouldn’t wonder if you’re right,” agreed 
Mr. Blossom. ‘‘ They hammered the lid of the chest 
on good and hard, and they’d naturally think we 
might go back to my place with it. Anyhow, they^d 
feel sure we wouldn’t know where the gold was, no 
matter what happened. Pretty clever dodge of them, 
I call it” 

Pretty clever,” echoed Rodney. “ But we’ve 
got the gold in spite of them.” 

Do you suppose they left the two pieces in the 
box as a sort of a sop to us ? ” asked Tom. 

“If they did, I think we might return the com- 
pliment,” laughed Mr. Blossom. 

“ Now, that was just what I was planning to do,” 
put in Stephen. He pointed at the sack of pebbles 
that he and Rodney had thrown out of the motor- 
boat. “ When I thought they might have left the 
money here, I thought they’d probably put it in a 
sack ; that’s why I asked Eliza-Jane f6r the flour-bag. 
We can make it look pretty much like the one we 
found, and then they can have the fun of finding it,” 
“ Good enough ! ” cried Rodney. He went down 
to the other bag, and rolled it up where Stephen was 

14 


210 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


sitting. It’s a little bigger than the other,” he said, 
standing them side by side. 

Take out some of the pebbles,” suggested Tom. 
Rodney opened the bag and scooped up several 
handfuls of small stones. This made the two bags 
practically the same size. When we tie this one up 
they’ll look as much alike as two peas in a pod,” he 
said. 

‘‘And we can make them look even more alike,” 
said Stephen. “ Maybe if they open their sack and 
see some gold pieces lying on top, they won’t bother 
to look any further, and will take it back to Beaufort 
with them. We can try it anyway.” He looked up 
at Tom and Mr. Blossom. “ Do you think we might 
waste a few guineas on them ? ” 

“ Surely,” said Mr. Blossom. “ We might give 
them a dozen. That’ll pay them for the trouble 
they’ve taken, and our old friend Peter Doan can 
truthfully say that he found pirate gold, as he’s 
always been wanting to do.” 

Stephen put his hand in the bag of guineas, took 
out a dozen pieces and spread them on top of the 
pebbles in the second bag. “ There, if you just open 
the top and look in you’d think it was all gold,” said 
he. “ How about that ? ” 

“ Very well done,” said Mr. Blossom. 

The second sack was tied up and put in the hole 
where the other bag had been found. Sand and 
pebbles were scattered over it, so that the place looked 


PIRATE GOLD 


211 


as it had when “ The Wild Goose ” first landed on 
the point. 

‘‘ Now/’ said Tom, “ weVe got what we started 
out to find. The next thing is to get it safely up to 
Charleston.” 

Tm feeling terribly hungry,” said Rodney. 
“ Don’t you think we could have some supper before 
we do anything else ? ” 

‘‘ Sure,” agreed Tom. We can put the gold in 
the motor-boat, and go around back of this point to 
the neck where we camped last night. No one can 
see us there, and we can have supper while we make 
our plans.” 

With the precious sack in the centre of their 
supper-table, which was a strip of moss, the expedi- 
tion ate most of what was left of the provisions 
which were still in the larder of The Wild Goose.” 
None of the four wanted to take his eyes off the 
sack for more than a minute at a time, and Stephen 
was often tempted to untie the cord and look inside to 
make certain that the golden guineas were actually 
there. He resisted the temptation, however; but 
as soon as they had finished supper he made a 
suggestion. 

Seems to me we’d better divide the guineas and 
take them to Charleston by two different ways. Now 
we’ve got our hands on them we don’t want to risk 
losing them through any accident to the motor- 
boat.” 


212 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


‘‘ That’s a good idea,” said Tom, especially 
since we don’t know just what our friends the enemy 
are up to. They might run us down with a bigger 
boat than ' The Wild Goose ’ and get the sack away. 
Why shouldn’t two of us go by boat, and two take 
the road that runs up the shore? ” 

I think that’s a mighty good idea,” said 
Stephen. 

'' I don’t know much about the road,” said Mr. 
Blossom. They’re not over-good around here, and 
it would be a mighty long tramp all the way to 
Charleston. Of course, you might be able to get a 
wagon to take you part way. It’s some distance 
through to the railroad, almost as far, I judge, as it 
is to Charleston.” 

‘‘ We don’t want the railroad,” put in Stephen. 
“ I think we could manage all right by hiring a rig 
from some farmer. That would be safer than 
guarding all that gold in the train.” 

“ What do you think of dividing forces ? ” Rod- 
ney asked Mr. Blossom. 

The latter, who was sitting with his back against 
a tree, leaned forward, hands clasped about his knees. 
‘‘ I think perhaps it would be the better plan,” he said, 
‘‘ but the two who go by land have got to keep their 
eyes open, and not answer all the questions they’re 
asked. It oughtn’t to be so hard for those who look 
after the gold in ‘ The Wild Goose.’ ” 

‘‘ It will give us a chance to use our wits,” de^ 


PIRATE GOLD 


213 


dared Tom, jumping up. '‘Of course, Mr. Blossom 
will have to go in the boat, as he’s the only one who 
knows much about running it ; so we three must draw 
lots to see which one goes with him.” He picked 
three blades of beach-grass, tore them in unequal 
lengths and held them out to Stephen and Rodney. 

“ The one who gets the longest goes with Mr. 
Blossom, and the other two take to the road,” he 
explained. 

The two boys drew. To Rodney fell the longest. 

“ The sea for mine ! ” he exclaimed. “ I always 
did like the sailor’s life better than footing it on 
shore.” 

Now that the party was divided in two, the next 
question was as to carrying the guineas. There was 
only the one sack, and it was clearly out of the 
question for Tom and Stephen to put half the gold 
pieces in their pockets. They went down to the 
motor-boat and searched through its lockers. Pres- 
ently Rodney discovered a brown canvas haversack 
.tucked away in the bow. It had a strong leather 
shoulder-strap, and had been used by Mr. Blossom 
to carry food on hunting trips by land. The strap 
could be adjusted so that the haversack would come 
about to Tom’s hip. It was big enough to hold half 
the guineas, and had the great advantage of looking 
just like a scout’s knapsack. It would, therefore, 
cause much less curiosity than would the sight of the 
boys carrying a meal-bag. 


214 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Taking the haversack into the shelter of the trees, 
Stephen untied the bag of gold and poured out what 
he judged to be about half its contents. These were 
put in the haversack, and on top of them some cotton- 
waste, which had seen service in the boat. The 
haversack was strapped, and then tied securely with a 
bit of rope. Tom lifted it and swung it over his 
shoulder. It was heavy, but they could carry it if he 
and Stephen took turn and turn about. 

“ I reckon we’ll want to find a horse and cart 
before very long,” Stephen chuckled, as he in turn 
swung the bag of gold across his shoulder. 

'‘And whatever you do, never let it out of your 
sight,” warned Rodney. “ That cotton will keep it 
from clinking, so nobody ought to guess what’s in it 
from its sound, but if they happen to pick it up it 
might make them awful suspicious.” 

‘‘Trust us to keeping our eyes on it all right,” 
said Tom, “ and I’m going to use it as a pillow at 
night.” 

After more discussion it was decided that Mr. 
Blossom and Rodney should take advantage of the 
clear night, and start north in the boat. They could 
run for several hours before stopping to camp for 
the night. In this way if Doan and Parry should 
happen to be lurking around the neighborhood the 
two in the boat at least would get away. 

Tom and Stephen each had a purse with sufficient 
money in it to pay for board and lodging, as well as 


PIRATE GOLD 


215 


to hire a wagon to take them to Charleston. They 
could buy breakfast in the morning at some farmer’s 
house. Each boy took a blanket, and as it was such a 
clear night they declared they would enjoy sleeping 
out in the woods. 

All arrangements made, the two in The Wild 
Goose ” started out from shore, while the others 
stood on the bank and watched them swiftly glide 
across the water. No other boat was to be seen. 
Apparently ‘‘ The Wild Goose ” had gained a good 
start on any pursuer. 

“ That bag of guineas ought to get to Charleston 
all right,” declared Stephen. I reckon it’s safe 
enough in its little cubby-hole up in the bow.” 

‘‘And our bag’s going to get there safely, too,” 
said Tom. He patted the haversack that swung from 
his shoulder. “We can tell anyone we’ve got a sack 
of oysters here,” he said. “ Feels as much like a bag 
of oysters as anything else.” 

“Think of calling pirate gold oyster shells !” mut- 
tered Stephen. “ I don’t think Blackbeard would 
thank you for calling his treasure that ! ” 

With the precious bag on Tom’s back, and their 
blankets slung over their shoulders, the two boys set 
out from the neck of land inland. At first they had 
to break their way through a great deal of under- 
brush, but presently they came to a little path that 
led north. The woods were very still, the only noise 
being the crackling of twigs they broke, and the 


216 


BLACKBEAED’S ISLAND 


occasional hoot of an owl in the distance. They 
tramped for about a half-hour, and then came to an 
open glade where the starlight showed them a good 
place to camp. No house was near — 'they had the 
woods to themselves. It was as good a place as 
could be found for two wayfarers. 

Tom let the haversack rest on the ground and 
sat down beside it. 

“ I’m going to use it for a pillow,” said he, and 
if anyone tries to pull it out from under my head 
there’s going to be trouble.” 

I don’t think anyone’s likely to try it here,” 
said Stephen. I don’t believe squirrels and chip- 
munks care much for oyster shells.” They spread 
their blankets on the soft moss. Tom doubled his 
up so that part of it covered the haversack and made 
it a softer pillow. They laid down, but could not 
go to sleep at once. For some little time they talked 
about the day’s events. 

“ I think we’ve got the whole thing straightened 
out,” said Tom. '' Of course, Doan knew that we 
were after the treasure. He’d seen Rodney and he’d 
seen us in ' The Wild Goose.’ He knew he couldn’t 
get away in the sail-boat, or in that patched-up ‘ Sea 
Serpent ’ of his; so he thought his best plan was to 
try to fool us. That’s why he took out the guineas 
and hid them on the beach. Then he wanted us 
to find his old boat with the chest in it, while he and 
Parry paddled away in the duck-boat. He figured 


PIRATE GOLD 


217 


out that when we found the chest was empty we 
wouldn’t know what to do. He and Parry would 
have disappeared by that time; we’d have been 
thrown off their track ; and we wouldn’t know where 
they’d hidden the treasure. They’d probably land 
somewhere along the shore to the south and wait. 
After a while they’d go up to the point and find their 
sack again, and then they’d have a clear field to take 
it wherever they wanted. That was a pretty slick 
dodge of theirs when they saw they couldn’t get 
away from ‘ The Wild Goose.’ And it would have 
worked if you hadn’t happened to remember you 
saw them digging on that point, Steve.” 

Stephen considered Tom’s explanation for sev- 
eral minutes before he spoke. That’s all clear 
enough,” he finally admitted, ‘‘except that I don’t 
see why they didn’t put the bag of guineas in the 
duck-boat when they left ‘ The Sea Serpent ’ on Cow 
Island. You’d think they’d want to keep their hands 
on those gold pieces.” 

“ I thought of that, too,” said Tom, “ and I 
think the reason they decided to hide the sack in the 
sand, instead of taking it with them, was that they 
knew we were pretty close on their trail and might 
see them put such a big bag into the duck-boat. Of 
course they wanted us to think that the treasure was 
still in the chest, and if we saw them taking a big 
bag out of the motor-boat and putting it in the duck- 
boat when they reached Cow Island we’d be apt to 


218 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


suspect that the chest was empty. Besides that, the 
bag of gold was pretty heavy, and that canvas duck- 
boat wouldn’t carry much extra weight. Then, for 
another thing, we mightn’t have stopped to open the 
chest, but have followed them at once, and in that 
case we’d have caught the treasure when we caught 
the duck-boat. They must have thought it safer to 
hide it where they did, and then paddle away,, as 
if they’d given up the whole affair, and come back 
again when we’d decided the gold had vanished. 
That’s the way it looks to me.” 

‘‘ I reckon you’ve figured it out all right,” agreed 
Stephen. ‘‘ I wonder how long they’ll stay away 
before they decide we’ve given up the hunt? ” 

‘"As I work it out,” said Tom, “ they may stay 
away from that point for some little time. On the 
other hand, they might steal back there to-night.” 

“ I wonder what they’ll do when they find their 
sack’s full of pebbles, with only a layer of gold ? ” 
Stephen inquired of the tree-tops hanging above him. 

By the time they do that,” said Tom, ‘‘ half 
the guineas ought to be nearly to Charleston by boat, 
and the other half on their way by land. I don’t 
see how they’re going to find either of us again.” 
He stroked the bag that lay under his head. “ To 
think that map in the box I bought at the shop really 
led us to pirate gold ! ” he muttered. Seems almost 
too good to be true.” 

There was silence, the thick silence of the woods 


PIRATE GOLD 


219 


at midnight, then some bird calling way off in the 
distance. Blackbeard^s gold turned into oyster 
shells,'' chuckled Stephen. If they get uncomfort- 
able, Tom, I'll try sleeping on them." 

They're all right," Tom answered. One 
doesn't get such a chance as this every day in the 
year. Won't I have a story to tell when I get back 
to New York! " 

Presently the two boys were asleep. The pillow 
of gold pieces, or oyster shells, made little difference 
to Tom, tired after the adventures of that day. He 
slept until the light of the rising sun broke in through 
the trees; then his first thought was to touch his 
pillow under his head. It was still there ; the guineas 
were safe, so far at least. 


XVII 

THE MERCHANT’S WAGON 

People don’t lie abed long in the woods in the 
morning. Sun and forest air, and the sight of forest 
things, make a camper eager to be up and in motion. 
In the case of Tom and Stephen, moreover, the sack 
of gold pieces didn’t make the most comfortable 
pillow, for it reminded them that they wanted to 
start as soon as possible for Charleston. 

The sun had not been up long when the two boys 
left their night’s lodging in search first of breakfast, 
and then of a team to take them to town. It was 
Stephen’s turn to carry the haversack. He slung it 
over his shoulder by the broad strap and marched 
off briskly toward the west. He knew that some- 
where in that direction there must be a road running 
north and south, and the chances were that there 
would be at least scattered farm-houses in the neigh- 
borhood of the road. 

It was a sparsely settled region, however, with 
more woods than cotton-fields or pastures, and they 
had to tramp a good hour before they reached a 
road. Wagon-wheels had made deep ruts in the 
sandy soil, and the road could have been little better 
than a bog in wet weather. Still it was a highway 
of some sort, and in all probability led to some farm- 
house. 

220 


THE MERCHANT’S WAGON m 

There’s no telling which way we’ll come to a 
house first,” said Stephen, but I reckon we’d better 
go north, as that’ll get us so much farther on our 
way anyhow.” 

What are you going to tell anyone who asks 
what you’ve got in that heavy bag?” Tom ques- 
tioned. I don’t think they’ll take much stock in 
its being oyster shells.” 

“ I’ve got something better than that,” said 
Stephen. We’ve been out hunting minerals, pieces 
of quartz, and bits of rock with mica in them, and 
we’re taking them home to study them. People do 
study minerals, you know; so I don’t see why that 
won’t sound all right.” 

‘‘They might believe that,” Tom agreed; “and 
it won’t be so far wrong after all, for the haversack 
is full of minerals.” 

“ Pretty nice specimens, too,” said Stephen, pat- 
ting the bag. “ My, but I hope we find some break- 
fast soon ! I’m pretty nearly starved.” 

They had to go some distance farther, however, 
before they sighted a primitive white frame house, 
built in a clearing to the left of the road. They 
marched up the path and knocked on the front door. 
Nobody answered the knock. Then they went ’round 
to the back of the house. There the household were 
gathered, a woman feeding corn to a lot of chickens, 
a man smoking a corncob pipe, and three small chil- 
dren playing with a dog. The man looked up and 


222 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


nodded to the boys, though he neither moved in his 
chair nor took the pipe from his mouth. 

Howdy,'’ said he, the pipe held tight in his 

teeth. 

Good morning," said Tom. Could we get 
something to eat here? We haven’t had any break- 
fast yet. We’d be willing to pay whatever’s right.’’ 

The man looked too lazy to be at all interested 
in the proposition, but the woman stopped feeding 
the chickens and turned around. 

If you’ll step into the kitchen,’’ she said, I’ll 
get you some bacon and corn-bread and coffee.’’ She 
tucked the youngest child under her arm, and hurried 
into the house. 

‘‘ Go along and rest yourselves inside,’’ invited 
the man, whose main idea seemed to be that of 
resting. 

The two went into the kitchen, where the mere 
smell of boiling coffee made them hungrier than 
before. Soon the food was on the table, and the 
boys ate it under the approving eyes of the cook, 
who appeared very much complimented at the speed 
with which her bacon and corn-bread disappeared. 

When they had finished Tom took a dollar bill 
from his pocket and gave it to the woman. 

“ Shucks, it ain’t worth that much,’’ she pro- 
tested. 

With a lordly manner he insisted that she keep 
the bill. Then, with Stephen, who had never let 


THE MERCHANT’S WAGON 


223 


the precious haversack leave his shoulder, they went 
out-doors again to interview the man. 

“ We’ve been off on a tramp for a couple of 
days,” Tom explained, “ and now we’d like to get 
back to Charleston as soon as we can. We thought 
we might find a horse and cart somewhere along 
here. It’s pretty far over to the railroad, isn’t it ? ” 

‘‘ Most as far as it is to Charleston,” agreed the 
man. He took his pipe from his mouth and regarded 
it contemplatively. “ You ain’t far from the village 
up here to the cross-roads. There’s a man keeps a 
store there, Silas Sloan. He drives a wagon up along 
the shore to Charleston every week or so, trading 
with the farmers. He might fetch you along. Then 
there’s a man there what’s got a automobile. If it 
ain’t broke down I reckon he’d take you up, if you 
pay him enough.” 

‘‘ How far is it to the cross-roads ? ” Stephen 
asked. 

Less than a half-mile,” said the man. I 
reckon you kin walk that fur, if you’ve been tramp- 
ing for a couple of days.” 

“ Yes, I reckon we can,” agreed Stephen, smiling. 

Good-day.” He took off his hat to the woman, who 
had just appeared at the kitchen door. Then the two 
boys started back to the road. 

The cross-roads was only a collection of a dozen 
houses with a store bearing the sign of Silas Sloan 
in the centre of the village. The boys went into the 


224 


BLACKBEAED’S ISLAND 


store, where Sloan was weighing out brown sugar 
for a customer. As soon as he was free, Tom asked 
if there was any way in which they could buy a ride 
to Charleston. 

Sloan considered the question. ‘‘ Well, I’m 
going up along the road this afternoon,” said he. ‘‘I 
reckon there’d be room for the two of you in my 
wagon. It ain’t a railroad though. I stop along the 
way to take orders, and my two horses ain’t thor- 
oughbreds, and the road ain’t no driving park ; but I 
reckon it’s better than footing it all the way. You’d 
have to spend the night at Jordan’s ; that’s where I 
put up. I’ll take you along for a dollar a head.” 

This means of conveyance seemed somewhat 
slow, so Tom said that he had heard there was an 
automobile in the village, and asked where he could 
find its owner. 

That’s Jonas Hubbel’s,” said the merchant. 

He’s got a Ford. Sometimes it’s running, and 
sometimes it ain’t. You’ll find him down to the 
third house, the one with the pink window-glass in 
the front door.” 

They found the house with the pink window-glass 
without any difficulty. The noise of hammering led 
them to suppose that the owner was out in a shed 
back of his house. There he was indeed, looking as 
grimy and hot as if he had just come up from a coal- 
mine. 

The Ford appeared to be largely in separate pieces 


THE MERCHANT’S WAGON 


225 


to judge from the amount of metal that surrounded 
Mr. Hubbel. ‘‘ We heard you had an automobile 
that you sometimes hired out to people to go to 
Charleston,” said Tom. We’d like to get there 
as soon as we can.” 

Jonas Hubbel stood up, and with a sweep of the 
back of his hand managed to smear grease over his 
cheeks, so that he looked like a clown at a circus. 

There’s the automobile,” said he, indicating the 
separate pieces of metal. “ But Lord knows how 
soon I’ll get it together again ! Run it on to a big 
stone last night in the dark, and did something to the 
engine. Mebbe I could get it ready by to-night, 
mebbe it would take me a day or two longer.” 

This wasn’t exactly Tom’s idea of rapid locomo- 
tion. The car, as it appeared in the shed, seemed to 
hold little promise of being ready for use for several 
weeks. I don’t believe we’d better take chances on 
that,” he said, looking at Stephen. 

Stephen nodded. I reckon the horses would be 
surer,” he agreed. 

Well,” said Hubbel, “ I can’t promise nothing. 
I might have it ready to-night, and then again I 
mightn’t. I don’t blame ye, if ye take the horses. 
That there engine’s a mighty pesky thing.” 

The possible use of the automobile being so 
doubtful, the two went back to the store, where they 
agreed to pay Silas Sloan a dollar apiece, if he would 
take them as passengers in his wagon. This meant 
15 


226 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


that they would have to wait until that afternoon to 
start their journey, but as the store-keeper assured 
them that they would find no other village along the 
road, and that the chances of hiring a team elsewhere 
were very poor, they decided to wait and ride with 
him, rather than push on now. 

There was nothing to see in the village, and they 
had little desire to tramp through the fields carrying 
the heavy haversack, so they stayed on the porch in 
front of the store, and watched an occasional 
passer-by. 

‘‘ I never saw such a sleepy place,” said Tom, as 
he squinted out at the sunny, sandy road that ran 
through the settlement. ‘‘ Seems as if nothing ever 
happened here.” 

“ Don’t believe it does,” agreed Stephen. 

Wouldn’t it make these people sit up if they knew 
what was in our sack ! ” 

‘"Ssh!*” cautioned Tom. “Be careful. Why 
should the people get excited over a bag full of 
minerals? ” 

Dinner time made a break in the lazy day. Silas 
Sloan invited them to join him at his table, where his 
wife set out a hearty meal. After dinner the mer- 
chant began to make preparations for his trip. He 
got out two horses and a covered wagon from his 
stable. In the wagon he placed a number of boxes 
and bags containing the supplies he expected to sell 
to farmers along his route. The driver’s seat was 


THE MERCHANT’S WAGON 


wide, and would easily hold Mr. Sloan and the two 
boys. By four o’clock he was ready to start. 

‘‘ That’s a mighty heavy sack you’ve got there,” 
said Sloan, as he watched Stephen climb up to the 
seat. 

“ Yes, it’s full of minerals we’ve been picking 
up,” Stephen explained. You see we’re making a 
study of minerals.” 

‘‘ Well, I hope you’ll run across some with a 
streak of gold in them,” chuckled Sloan. That’s 
the kind of minerals it pays best to find.” 

“ I don’t suppose there are many like that around 
here? ” Tom asked. 

No, there ain’t,” the merchant agreed. “If 
there was I wouldn’t be store-keeping.” 

Sloan took his seat, picked up the reins, and 
called to his horses. He drove out into the high- 
road, and turned north. He was a large, red- faced 
man of genial disposition, and now that he had no 
business on hand he expanded and talked a great 
deal as they rode along. Much of his talk was about 
the people who lived in that part of the country. 
According to him they were most of them as odd as 
a collection of animals in the zoo. 

Occasionally they came to a house; then Sloan 
would stop and halloo. Men and women would 
come and buy something from him, or give him an 
order for something they wanted him to bring them 
from town. Sloan would tell the gossip of the cross- 


228 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


roads, and in return the purchaser would give him 
any bit of news he might have. 

“ Sort of a newspaper, I am,” he explained to 
the boys. ‘‘ Don’t know what these folks would do 
if I didn’t come to see them a couple o’ times a 
month. Git up there! ” he called out to his horses, 
and again the wagon would bump along the road. 
The deep ruts and the many bumps made riding 
more laborious than easy. 

“ I don’t wonder Jonas Hubbel has a lot of 
trouble with his automobile,” Tom said, when the 
wagon lurches about so.” 

“ He has to fix it up most every week,” said Sloan 
with a grin. I’ll stick to my horses till we get 
macadamized roads down here. Horses take to 
bumps easier than what engines do.” 

Sometimes the wagon would stop before a farm- 
house, and Sloan would unpack some of the boxes 
and bags that were piled up under the cover. It 
might be that the farmer’s wife wanted to buy some 
soap, or some flour, or some baking-powder. Then 
would follow the usual sociable chat after the pur- 
chase was made. This would give Tom and Stephen 
a chance to slip down from the driver’s seat and 
stretch themselves. They understood how it was 
that Sloan himself liked these frequent stops after 
such long stretches of bumping up and down. 

It was late in the afternoon when the team pulled 
up before the most prosperous looking farm-house 


THE MERCHANT’S WAGON 


229 


that the boys had seen in that part of the country. 
It was a two-and-a-half-story frame house, with a 
barn considerably larger. Back of it was pasture 
land, and a good-sized corn-field extended on one 
side. 

“ This is where I alius stop for the night,” Silas 
Sloan explained. ‘^Amos Jordan’s a good friend of 
mine. I do business for him in the city, and we like 
to talk over politics. Mrs. Jordan makes the best 
buckwheat cakes I’ve ever met with. You won’t 
find nothing to complain of in Mrs. Jordan’s table, 
1 can swear to that.” 

With familiarity born of long custom, Sloan 
drove his wagon into the big barn. A young fellow 
about twenty years old came forward and shook 
hands with the merchant, who introduced him to the 
two boys as Dick Jordan, the farmer’s elder son. 

Think you can take care of the three of us 
to-night, Dick ? ” Sloan asked. ‘‘ These two chaps 
are going to Charleston with me.” 

“ Oh, I reckon we can,” answered the other. I 
can bunk with Jack, and they can have my room for 
the night.” 

Stephen and Tom climbed down from the high 
seat. Stephen, who had carried the haversack over 
his shoulder all the afternoon, was very stiff from 
riding. 

Reckon you boys would like to stretch your- 
selves a bit,” suggested Mr. Sloan. ‘‘ Don’t you wait 


230 


BLACKBEAKD’S ISLAND 


for me, I can see to the horses all right. Go along 
and ease your muscles.'' 

The two went out of the barn, and took a look 
around the northern part of the farm. 

‘‘ It seems safe enough here,” said Stephen. If 
we sleep on the sack to-night, there oughtn't to be 
any risk of losing it here.” 

‘‘ We've got to keep it by us,” warned Tom, 
‘‘ even when we’re down-stairs eating supper.” 

“ You take it then,” suggested Stephen. “ It 
makes my shoulders feel lop-sided.” 

Tom took the haversack and slung it over his 
shoulders, while Stephen rubbed his side where the 
bag had hung. They went around to the front door, 
and sat on the little porch watching a small boy drive 
some cows up the lane to a nearby pasture ; then Dick 
Jordan and Mr. Sloan joined them, and they went 
into the house, where they found Mrs. Jordan 
setting the supper-table. 

It was arranged that the two should have Dick's 
room for the night, and he took them up to it, and 
brought them a pitcher of water. The room was on 
the second floor at the corner, and had a view of 
the road. When Dick left them Tom rested the 
haversack on the chair. 

‘‘ I’m going to have a look at it, just to make sure 
the pieces of mineral are all there.” He unstrapped 
the sack and looked inside. Under the cotton waste 
the guineas were safe and sound. 


THE MERCHANT’S WAGON 


2S1 


It’s going to look strange for me to wear that 
heavy bag at the table,” said Tom, strapping it up 
again. 

Strange or not, it’s got to be done,” said 
Stephen. 

“ Right you are,” agreed his cousin. “ I’ll have 
to pretend that we’ve got so used to carrying it that 
we don’t think anything about it.” 

When they went down-stairs they found that 
Mr. Jordan and his younger son Jack had come 
back from the farm. They all sat down to the 
table, which was soon covered with a more elaborate 
meal than any the two boys had found since the 
evening they had spent in Colonel Whitney’s house 
in Beaufort. It was clear that Silas Sloan had been 
right in looking forward to his occasional visits at 
the Jordans’. Mrs. Jordan saw that his plate was 
kept full. Over it, especially over the buckwheat 
cakes, Sloan would sometimes look up and nod to 
Stephen and Tom and give them a sly wink. 

‘‘So you young men are Boy Scouts, are you ? ” 
Mr. Jordan asked after a while. “ Those look like 
good strong suits for roughing it, but I should think 
you would want to leave off that heavy knapsack 
part of the time.” He was looking at Tom, across 
whose breast ran the broad leather strap of the 
haversack. 

“ Well, you see,” said Tom, smiling, “ we get 
so used to our knapsack that it seems natural to have 


232 


BLACKBEAED’S ISLAND 


it at our side. I’m a great hand at losing things, too. 
I hardly dare take anything off for fear I’ll forget it 
when I start out, and when you’ve got all your kit 
in one of these sacks, you don’t like to run the risk 
of forgetting it.” 

‘‘ You don’t carry one, I see,” said Mr. Jordan, 
glancing at Stephen. 

“ No,” was the latter’s answer. Tom and I 
take turns. We thought that was the easier way to 
do. You see we’ve been hunting minerals down 
near Beaufort. We had a fine time there, too. Have 
you ever been to Beaufort, Mr. Jordan?” In this 
way he tried to turn the conversation from the 
delicate subject of the haversack. 

‘‘ You surely do set a good table,” Sloan de- 
clared, as he finally untucked the napkin from his 
collar and put it on the table with a sigh, as if 
regretting that he was unable to eat anything more. 

I always tell my wife that there ain’t another 
table in the county can come up to yours.” 

That must make Mrs. Sloan feel nice,” an- 
swered Mrs. Jordan, her eyes twinkling at her 
guest’s enthusiasm. 

‘‘ She’s used to it,” Sloan went on. ** When I 
get back from a visit here, she always says to me, 
‘ Now I suppose you don’t need anything to eat 
since you’ve been up to the Jordans’.’ ” 

“ I’ll trust her for evening things up with Silas,” 
said Mr. Jordan, laughing. “ I reckon she’s as good 


THE MERCHANT’S WAGON 


a trader at the store as he is. You don’t lose any 
money, Silas, when you take these little trips.” 

The men went out on the porch for their talk on 
business and politics that Sloan had mentioned. 
Stephen and Tom and the two Jordan boys made 
themselves comfortable on the top rail of a three- 
barred fence. 

‘‘ That knapsack of yours looks mighty heavy,” 
said Dick Jordan, putting his hand on it as it hung 
from Stephen’s shoulder. ‘‘ You must have metal 
in it.” 

Minerals,” said Stephen shortly. We’ve 
been hunting minerals.” 

‘‘ Let’s see them,” suggested Jack. 

‘‘Oh!” exclaimed Tom suddenly, pointing his 
finger at the sky. “ Did you see that shooting-star 
right over there toward the woods ? My, but it was 
a big one 1 I wonder where shooting-stars go ? Can 
any of you tell me ? ” 

“ Wish I knew more about the stars,” put in 
Stephen, playing Tom’s game for all it was worth. 
“ That’s something they ought to teach at school. 
What sort of school do you have here in the coun- 
try?” This last question was aimed at Jack, who 
felt it incumbent on him to answer the question, and 
so entirely forgot his original request that he might 
have a look at the minerals in the knapsack. 

Tom and Stephen kept the conversation in safe 
channels until Dick Jordan announced that it was 


234 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


bedtime, as he had to be up very early in the morning. 
They left the men still arguing on the porch and 
went up to their room. Motherly Mrs. Jordan 
came up after them to see that they had everything 
they wanted. 

“ It’s a shame for us to turn Dick out of his 
room this way,” said Tom. ‘‘We could have slept 
anywhere.” 

“ Not a bit of a shame,” answered Mrs. Jordan. 
“Jack’s got a nice room on the other side of the 
hall, with a double-bed in it same as this one here. 
Don’t you bother about Dick. I hope you’ll find his 
bed right comfortable.” 

“ We ought to,” said Stephen. “ We’ve been 
sleeping out on blankets and boughs for a week. I 
reckon you’ll have to call us two or three times 
before we wake in the morning.” 

“ Good night,” said Mrs. Jordan. “If there’s 
anything you want, knock on Jack’s door; it’s the 
front room across the hall.” 

The boys were soon ready for bed. It seemed 
a shame to have to tuck the heavy knotty haversack 
under one of the soft pillows, but it had to be done. 
As Tom had slept on the haversack the night before, 
Stephen took it this time. He bunched his pillow 
up on top of it, which gave him a very high head- 
rest; but he was so sleepy that even this uncom- 
fortable attitude made little difference to him. 

It was Tom who woke with a start, at what 


THE MERCHANT’S WAGON 


235 


seemed the middle of the night, although a faint 
light was coming in through the windows. He was 
certain he heard some one turning the knob of the 
door to their room. He reached out his hand to 
Stephen, and gripped him by the arm. 

‘‘ What’s the matter? ” muttered Stephen, as he 
turned sleepily. 

In a minute Stephen too was wide awake. Both 
boys heard the door creak on its hinges; then some 
one came into the room. Stephen put his hand on 
the haversack under his pillow. The faint light only 
showed them some one moving about ; there wasn’t 
enough light to tell who it was. This some one 
crept cautiously about the room, and then around 
the bed on Stephen’s side. When the figure was 
pretty close to him, Stephen drew himself up on 
one elbow. 

What do you want ? ” he muttered. ‘‘ What 
are you doing here? ” 

The intruder stopped. ‘‘Didn’t mean to wake 
you,” he said. His voice told them it was Dick 
Jordan. “Thought I was so quiet you couldn’t 
possibly hear me.” 

“ I heard you when you turned the door-knob,” 
said Tom. 

“ Gee, you two must be light sleepers ! ” re- 
joined Dick. “ Why I came in on tip-toe, and you 
two are wide awake, as if I was a burglar. A 
person might think you was afraid of being robbed,” 


236 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


he added, with a laugh. “ But I don’t reckon you 
have anything to lose, unless it’s that precious 
knapsack of yours, with those minerals you were 
talking of.” 

Stephen’s hand clutched the sack tighter. 
‘‘ How’d you happen to come in? ” he asked. “ It 
can’t be much after midnight.” 

‘‘ Humph ! ” said Dick. ‘‘ It’s most six o’clock. 
I came in to get a sweater out of this bureau up by 
the bed. It’s mighty cold this morning.” 

‘‘ Oh, is that all.” Stephen gave a sigh of great 
relief. 

Dick Jordan got the sweater and went out again. 
When he had had time to go down-stairs Tom 
whispered to Stephen. Do you know I thought 
at first that must be Doan or Parry. Of course, 
it’s ridiculous, for they wouldn’t know where we 
were, but when I woke up and heard some one at 
the door, I felt pretty sure it was they.” 

‘‘ It’s queer how he happened to mention the 
knapsack,” said Stephen. ‘‘ Seems as if he must 
suspect something.” 

‘‘ Oh, no, he doesn’t,” answered Tom. He 
was just jollying us because I kept the knapsack on 
all last evening. He doesn’t guess what’s in it.” 

Well, I shouldn’t think he could,” said Stephen. 
He looked at the faint light that came in through 
the window. You have to get up pretty early if 
you live on a farm, don’t you? I’m glad I don’t 


THE MERCHANT’S WAGON 


237 


have to get up at this hour. Let’s turn over and 
have another nap.” 

They slept for at least an hour more before a 
knock on the door woke them. “ Breakfast’s almost 
ready,” announced the cheery voice of Mrs. Jordan. 

“All right,” answered Tom. 

He woke Stephen. “ Time to get up, Steve,” 
he called. The latter rolled over, rubbed his eyes, 
and sat up. Then he pulled the pillow off the 
haversack, and, picking it up, slipped out of bed 
and put it on the table. “We ought to have you 
safe in Charleston by night,” he announced, address- 
ing the bag of guineas. 

They were half dressed, and Tom was just dry- 
ing his face on a towel, when there came a whirring 
noise through the open window. Stephen looked 
out at the road; then he suddenly jumped back as if 
he had almost stepped on a snake. 

“ What’s the matter? ” exclaimed Tom. 

“ Not so loud! ” muttered Stephen. “ It’s mat- 
ter enough I There’s a car out there, and Doan and 
Parry are in it ! ” 

Very cautiously Tom tiptoed toward the win- 
dow. He pulled one of the light curtains across it, 
and then peeped out between the curtain and the 
side of the window. In the road stood an auto- 
mobile. Jonas Hubbel was at the wheel, and Peter 
Doan was sitting beside him. Parry had just 
stepped out of the tonneau, and was looking at the 


238 BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 

Jordan house. Tom jumped back from the window. 
It seemed to him as if Parry's eyes might have 
caught sight of him. 

Thunderation ! " he exclaimed. We've got 
to watch out now ! " 

Stephen carried the precious haversack to the 
bureau, pulled open one of the drawers, put the sack 
inside and shoved some of Richard Jordan's clothes 
over it. We've got to keep them from coming in. 
this room at any cost," he whispered. Who'd ever 
have thought that that Ford car could have been 
fixed up so quickly ! " 

They must have ridden all night," whispered 
Tom. I hope Jonas Hubbel didn’t tell them that 
we tried to hire it ! " 


XVIII 


THE AUTOMOBILE 

From his hiding-place back of the curtain Tom 
continued to look at the men around the automobile. 
Jonas Hubbel had lifted the hood and was gazing 
intently at the engine. Peter Doan stood opposite 
him, also intently peering at the machinery. Samuel 
Parry, whose thoughts were evidently on a higher 
plane than that of cylinders, spark-plugs, and car- 
buretors, was observing the house and the meadows 
beyond it with the eye of an artist, or of a man 
eagerly looking for prospects of food. 

Tom caught Parry’s words as he turned toward 
the automobile. The old rattle-trap plugs along 
all right. If you tinker with it too much you’ll get 
it out of order. Let’s go in and see about breakfast.” 

Tom tiptoed away from the window to the 
bureau, where Stephen still stood guard before the 
treasure. If they come in to breakfast they’re 
sure to find that Mr. Sloan and two boys are stopping 
here ; and what’s more, that the two boys are us. I 
think we’d better leave before they look for us.” 

The Jordans and Mr. Sloan will think that’s 
mighty queer,” said Stephen. 

It won’t be as bad as being caught by Doan 
and Parry,” answered Tom. I think we can get 
239 


240 


BLACKBEABD’S ISLAND 


out by the window at the end of the hall. They’ll 
be on the front porch, or else coming in at the door.” 

The two boys slipped out into the hall. A quick 
glance at the other rooms showed that they had the 
second floor to themselves, the rest of the house- 
hold having gone to breakfast. The window at the 
rear end of the hall opened about three feet above 
the roof of the back kitchen door. On each side of 
this door was a trellis covered with vines. It would 
not be very difficult for two agile boys to make their 
way down to the ground by this ladder. 

I’ll keep watch at the head of the stairs, and 
give a low whistle if I see anyone coming up,” said 
Tom. “ You get the haversack, and drop itx)ut the 
window as quick as you can.” 

Stephen went back to their room, secured the 
sack and swung it over his shoulder. A minute later 
he was slipping out of the window on to the roof of 
the back doorway. Tom, listening at the stairs, 
heard Parry on the front porch asking if he could 
get a bit of breakfast there. 

Tom stole back to the window, and saw that 
Stephen had climbed down by the trellis and stood 
on the ground. Tom made a gesture with his 
hand, and Stephen sped away across the short space 
to the barn, and darted around one side of it. 

Tom climbed out of the window and let himself 
down by the trellis ; then he too made a sprint across 
to the barn and joined his cousin. '' We’re all 


THE AUTOMOBILE 


241 


right so far/’ whispered Stephen, ‘‘ but I don’t think 
we’d better stop here.” 

Peeping around a corner of the barn they saw 
that the automobile had been left in the road by the 
men, who had all three apparently gone in to break- 
fast. Feeling more secure now, the two boys took 
a line across the pasture back of the barn, came to a 
fence, which they climbed, and were soon in the 
shelter of a grove of pines. This was a good half- 
mile from the Jordan house, and certainly a safe- 
distance from any probable searchers. 

They sat down among the pines, and Stephen 
slipped the haversack from his shoulder. “ There 
might have been trouble there,” he said, with a grin. 

Those two fellows would certainly want to have a 
look at Mr. Sloan’s passengers. They’d have gone 
up-stairs and found us in that room, and then there’d 
have been the dickens to pay. They might have 
asked Sloan or Mr. Jordan if we carried anything 
with us, and they’d most likely have found out about 
this sack. I feel more comfortable with it out here.” 

Tom lay on the pine needles, his hands under his 
head. ‘‘ He who fights and runs away, lives to fight 
another day,” said he. “ They might have pretended 
we were running away with stolen goods, and 
hunted all through our room for it. I’m glad that 
automobile makes such a thundering loud noise.” 

They were silent for a time, during which 
Stephen took the opportunity to have another peep 
16 


242 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


at the guineas. The next question is/' he said, at 
length, ‘‘ how are we going to finish the trip to 
Charleston? You know Mr. Sloan told us there 
weren’t any other places where we could hire a team, 
and it’s still too long a way to foot it.” 

Tom sat up and leaned his chin on his hand. “ I 
think that after these fellows find we’ve taken 
French leave, they’ll get tired waiting and go on in 
their car. When we’re sure they’re gone we can 
make tracks back to the house and say we were out 
for a walk before breakfast. Then we’ll see if 
Mr. Sloan won’t let us finish the trip in his wagon.” 

“ That stuff about taking a walk before break- 
fast sounds sort of fishy to me,” objected Stephen, 
‘‘ particularly when we went out by the back door.” 

‘‘ You leave that to me,” said Tom. I think I 
can put it over all right. Anyway they can’t arrest 
us, and the worst they can do is for ‘Mr. Sloan to 
refuse to take us any further.” 

They waited a half-hour, until they were so 
hungry that Stephen declared he was almost ready 
to try eating acorns. Then came a loud whizzing 
noise not very far to the west of them. 

Sounds like a quail rising,” suggested Tom. 

Oh, no, it must be — ” He jumped up and ran 
noiselessly through the woods in the direction of the 
road. When he came back he was smiling. It was 
that old automobile whizzing along,” he announced. 
‘‘ I just caught sight of it going ’round the turn. 


THE AUTOMOBH^E 


243 


Hubbel and our two friends were in it. I guess 
they got tired waiting for us to come back there.” 

Well, I hope nothing happens to it now,” de- 
clared Stephen. I’d like them to get to Charleston 
as soon as they can.” 

“ I wonder why they’re in such a hurry to get 
to Charleston?” Tom asked thoughtfully. 

“ Give it up,” said Stephen. ‘T know I want to 
get the guineas there as soon as I can myself.” 

Assured that the pursuers were now safely on 
the road the two boys went back through the woods, 
and across the pasture to the barn. From there they 
sauntered calmly up to the front of the house. Silas 
Sloan and Mr. Jordan were standing on the porch. 

‘‘ Well, for the land’s sake ! ” exclaimed Mr. 
Jordan. Here they are now! Where on earth 
have you two been ? ” 

“ Off for a little walk,” Tom answered coolly. 
“ We like to get exercise before breakfast.” He 
looked at Stephen. I’m afraid, Steve, we stayed 
too long; perhaps they’ve finished breakfast.” 

I should say we had,” announced Mr. Sloan. 
‘‘And you didn’t only miss breakfast, but you missed 
some men who seemed to take an interest in what 
you were doing.” 

“A tall dark man, with black hair and mous- 
tache, and a red-faced fellow in a sailor’s cap?” 
inquired Tom. 

“ Yes,” said Mr. Sloan. “ They were travelling 


244 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


in Jonas Hubbel’s automobile, and they’d been on 
the road since three o’clock.” 

We wanted to miss them,” said Tom calmly. 
‘‘ We had some trouble with them about a boat down 
at Calkins’ Cove. They thought we owed them some 
money, which we didn’t; and they said they’d get 
even with us for it; but we were in the right, as 
Mr. Calkins can tell you if you ask him.” 

‘‘ They said something about some boys having 
taken something that belonged to them,” assented 
Mr. Jordan. “ I didn’t take much of a liking to 
the way that red- faced fellow spoke about it.” 

“And you’d like him a good deal less if you’d 
seen him as much as we have,” said Tom, beginning 
to feel that matters were clearing up, and that at 
least neither Mr. Jordan nor Silas Sloan was going 
to make any trouble for them. “ Could we get 
something to eat?” he asked. “I know we didn’t 
treat Mrs. Jordan right, but we’re awfully hungry.” 

Mr. Jordan smiled. “ Go right in,” said he, 
“ she’ll get you something.” He went on telling 
Sloan the things he wanted him to get in Charleston. 

Mrs. Jordan had saved some breakfast, thinking 
that her two vanished guests might appear again. 
While the boys ate she told them what had happened. 

“ Those three men had breakfast here,” said she, 
“ and when I went up to your room to call you 
again, and found you weren’t there, they wanted 
to know who you were, and what you looked like. 


THE AUTOMOBH^E 


245 


They seemed a good deal disappointed not to see you, 
and they stayed ’round a while thinking you’d come 
back. Somehow they didn’t seem friendly to you.” 

“ They weren’t,” said Tom. “ I’m glad we 
missed them.” 

Mrs. Jordan surveyed the two boys, and smiled. 
“ Well, I don’t interfere with other people’s busi- 
ness,” said she, but I’d rather take stock in you two 
youngsters than in those men. They didn’t look as 
if you could trust them with the silverware.” 

By the time the two had finished breakfast Dick 
and Jack Jordan had come back from the farm. 
They were very much interested in the happenings 
of the morning, and as soon as they got a chance 
began to question Tom and Stephen about their 
acquaintance with the strangers. 

I reckon you done something to them they 
didn’t like,” vouchsafed Dick. “ The fellow with 
the red face asked me on the quiet whether you had 
a bag of anything with you. I said you’d got a 
knapsack full of minerals.” 

Oh, we had a scrap with them once over a 
motor-boat,” said Tom quickly. They’re not in- 
terested in the minerals.” 

Why did he want to know if you’d got a sack 
with you, then ? ” asked Dick. 

If you knew him as well as we do,” said Tom, 
you’d find he wants to know about everything. 
He’s the most curious-minded man I ever saw.” 


246 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


“ He did seem mighty curious,” agreed Jack. 

He asked an awful lot of questions about you.’' 

There you are,” said Stephen, that’s just the 
way he is, always asking questions. That’s the chief 
thing we don’t like about him.” 

Well, you got out of seeing him pretty slick,” 
said Dick. Looks to me as if you thought he 
might be coming, and got away on purpose.” 

You’ve got a great head, you have,” said Tom, 
nodding approvingly at the other boy. 

‘‘ See here,” put in Stephen, '' if you ever come up 
to Charleston, you hunt me up. My father’s George 
Sims. Everybody knows him. I’ll tell you about 
this business then, but we want to keep it secret now.” 

“ Sure, we don’t want to dig out your secret,” 
said Dick, “but I’ll remember that, and hunt you 
up some day. I reckon Mr. Sloan’s about ready to 
start.” He held out his hand. “ Good luck to you. 
Stop in again any time you’re going along.” 

Silas Sloan was hitching up his horses in the 
barn. Tom went into the house and asked Mrs. 
Jordan how much they owed her for the night’s 
board and lodging. That hospitable woman, how- 
ever, declined to accept any payment, saying she was 
always glad to look after strangers, and especially 
such nice young fellows as Tom and Stephen. 

The covered wagon drove around to the front 
door, and the two boys climbed up to the seat beside 
the driver. 


THE AUTOMOBILE 


247 


Got everything, Silas ? called out Mr. Jordan. 
‘‘ Don’t forget those cigars and that saddle.” 

Don’t forget that new kind of stove polish,” 
added Mrs. Jordan, and that pink calico.” 

“ Don’t lose your bag of minerals,” called Dick, 
with a grin. 

There seemed little chance of that, for Stephen 
had one arm clutched round the haversack, as it 
swung from his shoulder. They drove into the high 
road and turned north toward Charleston. For a 
time Mr. Sloan drove silently, then a grin spread over 
his face, and he turned to look at the two beside him. 

‘‘ I don’t know what your game is,” he said, 
‘‘ but you two young rascals are up to something. 
Still, it’s none of my business. You’re paying me 
for your ride, and I like your company.” 

For the present at least neither Tom nor Stephen 
was disposed to enlighten Mr. Sloan as to their 
secret. He, however, didn’t urge them to tell him, 
and so they rode along chatting of all sorts of 
things. The road grew better as they drove north, 
and the two horses had less trouble in pulling the 
heavy canvas-covered wagon. As a result they made 
fairly good time, and by noon reached the house 
where Mr. Sloan said he usually stopped for dinner,. 

The man and woman who lived here were quite 
as fond of gossip as the other people in that sparsely- 
settled country. Having heard Sloan’s news, the 
farmer started to tell his. 


248 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Jonas Hubbel drove by in that engine of his’n/’ 
said the farmer. ‘‘ His party stopped for a little 
chat, while Jonas poured some water down the 
throat of his engine. One of the strangers had a fine 
black moustache, and the other looked like a clown I 
saw once to a circus. That’s to say he had funny 
little eyes, and a round face like a pumpkin, and he 
says to me, ‘ You didn’t see two boys travelling up 
this way, did ye? They was dressed in brown 
clothes, something like they wear in the army, only 
smaller,’ says the stranger. I told him I ain’t seen no 
such young fellows. Now I shouldn’t wonder if you 
two was the ones that man wanted to find.” He 
shook his head doubtfully. “ From the way that en- 
gine of Jonas’s started off after it had a drink. I’m 
feared you won’t be able to overhaul ’em with your 
horses.” 

“ Well,” said Mr. Sloan, with a sly look at the 
two boys, '' perhaps we don’t want to overhaul them. 
Perhaps we don’t care for their company as much 
as they care for ours. We’re particular, we are.” 

Well, they got away a good half hour ago,” 
said the farmer, “ so ’tain’t likely you’ll meet up with 
’em. Come on in. I reckon dinner’s ready.” 

They had a good dinner, and resumed the ride. 

The words of the farmer had set Tom to think- 
ing, and presently he volunteered to speak something 
of what was on his mind to Mr. Sloan. 

‘‘ It’s a fact we don’t want to meet those two 


THE AUTOMOBH^E 


249 


men in the automobile,” he said. You told us this 
morning that you didn’t care what we were up to, 
so if you don’t mind I’d rather not explain the whole 
business to you; but they would like to meet us, 
and perhaps try to get something from us. Now 
we don’t mean to let them have their way, so if we 
should happen to meet them you mustn’t be sur- 
prised at anything we do. We’re in the right about 
this, I promise you that.” 

“ So do I,” said Stephen, earnestly. 

The merchant smiled as he looked at the serious 
faces of the two boys. You don’t look like crooks 
to me, and whatever you’ve got that those two men 
want, I don’t believe you stole it wrongfully from 
them. No, sir! They look more like bad eggs than 
you do; so don’t you be afraid that I’d side with 
them. I’ll keep my hands off the business, unless you 
tip me the word what you’d like me to do.” 

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see,” said 
Tom. When they had left the farm-house after 
dinner, Stephen had given him the haversack, and it 
now swung by its strap across his shoulder. 

Stephen grew sleepy, and after looking back in 
the wagon he asked Mr. Sloan if he had any objec- 
tions to his taking one of the horse-blankets that was 
rolled up back of the seat and stretching out for a 
nap among the bags and boxes at the rear. 

“ Make yourself as comfortable as you can,” said 
Mr. Sloan. 'Mf you’ll push some of those boxes 


250 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


’round and pull out some of the bags you’ll get a 
pretty good place to sleep.” Stephen did as the 
driver suggested, and very soon was comfortably 
napping, while the horses, sleepy also after their 
morning’s work, kept slow pace. 

The road wound on through woods, by open 
fields, and past an occasional cottage. Although 
they were fairly near the water they caught no 
glimpse of it, as timber ran close down to its edge. 
After a half-hour’s nap Stephen woke up, and Tom 
took his place in the rear of the wagon, where he 
curled up comfortably behind a big bag of meal. 

‘‘ We ought to get to Ashley River by night, 
oughtn’t we ? ” Stephen asked, as he sat down by 
Mr. Sloan on the driver’s seat. 

“ We ought to,” said the latter. “ I generally 
leave my team on this side of the river and fetch the 
things over in a boat.” 

There were a number of turns in the road at 
this point, and as they rounded a bend shaped like 
the letter S they found an obstacle in the road before 
them. Mr. Sloan pulled up his reins. Only a few 
yards ahead was Hubbel’s automobile, and the 
owner, together with Doan and Parry, was trying to 
put a new tire on the left-hand rear wheel. 

The wagon stopped at Sloan’s loud “ whoa ! ” 

Hubbel, his coat off, his sleeves rolled up, crouch- 
ing by the wheel, paid no attention, and Doan, who 
was holding the tire and trying to follow the owner’s 


THE AUTOMOBH^E 


251 


directions, didn’t turn his head, but Parry, a hammer 
in one hand, and a screw-driver in the other, looked 
around, and then threw up his arm, as if command- 
ing the wagon to stop. 

There’s one of them now! ” he exclaimed, and 
pointed the hammer directly at Stephen. 

‘‘ Shut up! ” commanded Hubbel. “ We’re just 
getting the pesky thing in place! Don’t you turn 
’round ! ” he ordered Doan. Jack the wheel up a 
little higher.” 

Doan worked the jack so that the axle rose a 
couple of inches. ‘‘ Keep an eye on him, Sam,” he 
muttered. I don’t dare let go this blooming thing.” 

So it was Parry who strode up to the wagon 
and glared at Stephen with his black eyes. “ Caught 
you at last, young fellow ! ” he said. “ Suppose you 
climb right down from there, and let’s see what 
you’ve got.” 

Mr. Sloan was leaning forward, calmly watching 
Parry, an amused twinkle in his eyes. Stephen, con- 
siderably startled at first, now resumed an indifferent 
expression, and looked at Parry as if he had never 
laid eyes on him before. 

‘‘ Come down from there,” repeated Parry, or 
I’ll have to pull you down ! ” 

I say,” said Mr. Sloan, calmly, ‘‘ what’s your 
trouble, stranger? I’m driving this young man up 
to Charleston, and I don’t see what you’ve got to 
say about it.” 


252 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


“ He and his friend stole something from us,” 
Parry declared. He shook the hammer in a very dra- 
matic fashion. And as long as there’s any law in 
this here land, we mean to have our property again.” 

‘‘ Shut up ! ” roared Hubbel. ‘‘ You’re joggling 
this here wheel! It’s hard enough to get the tire 
fixed without your screaming like that.” 

Parry, however, had no intention of keeping 
quiet now, even if the new tire never got on its 
wheel. ‘‘We had something down to the Sea 
Islands,” he said, “ and this here fellow’s stole it 
away from us. It’s the same as if a man would 
come and rob your chicken-coop. We’ll have the 
law after them; that’s what we’ll do. Folks can’t 
steal from us and get away with it.” His eyes 
glared, and his black moustache bristled, as he 
waved his arms dramatically at the wagon. 

“ You’ll frighten my horses, and they’ll sma^h 
that automobile all to bits,” Sloan declared quietly. 

“ Don’t you do it ; don’t you do it I ” cried Hubbel. 
“ Keep your horses quiet ! ” 

“ Keep this here fountain of oratory quiet then,” 
answered Sloan, nodding toward Parry. 

“ Can’t you wait a minute, Sam? ” put in Doan. 
“ Just wait a minute. They can’t get by while we’re 
here in the road.” 

That seemed to make some impression on the 
black-haired man, for he turned toward the auto- 
mobile, and glared at it instead of at the wagon. 


THE AUTOMOBILE 


253 


Stephen took that opportunity to glance back over 
his shoulder to where Tom had been napping. To 
his great surprise Tom seemed to have disappeared. 

Stephen looked here and there among the boxes 
and bags. It was clear that Tom was no longer in 
the wagon. Then Stephen smiled, and faced Tound 
again. I reckon they may hold us up here some 
time,’’ he said quietly to Sloan. 

From what I’ve seen of those machines,” said 
the merchant, it may take an hour or a week to get 
it going right.” In a friendly tone of voice he called 
out to Hubbel, Say, anything we can do to help 
you there ? ” 

There was silence from the three men in the 
road, the tire was almost in place, and the moment 
was too critical for words. 

“ There,” announced Hubbel, after a minute, 
she’s on ! Gimme that pump from under the seat.” 
Doan obediently produced the pump, and the work 
of inflating the tire began. Hubbel pumped for a 
while, then Doan, and then Parry. By their united 
efforts the tire was finally filled with air 

“ Now she’s all right again, I reckon,” an- 
nounced Hubbel, putting the pump and the jack and 
the other tools back in their box. He stepped to 
the front of the car and began to crank it. 

Hold on there,” said Parry, '' we don’t want 
to start yet. We’ve got business with that fellow in 
the wagon.” 


254 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Hubbel paid no heed. He swung the crank 
Vound three or four times before the engine started. 
“ There/’ he announced, she’s going now. Jump 
in before we waste any more gasoline.” 

“ No,” said Doan, firmly. We want a few 
words before we start along.” He turned back 
toward the wagon. '' Now, suppose you and your 
friend get down from there,” he ordered, and 
let’s see what you’ve got hidden.” 

“Why should I get down?” asked Mr. Sloan. 
“ I don’t have to pump up my tires, or start my 
engine.” 

“ I don’t mean you,” said Doan, “ I mean that 
boy, and the other one in the wagon.” 

“ There isn’t any other one,” answered Stephen. 
“ I’m the only boy here.” 

“ But there was two of you back there this 
morning,” put in Parry fiercely. 

“ Well, we’ve shrunk since then,” said Stephen. 
He looked over his shoulder. “ There’s only one 
here now. Isn’t that so, Mr. Sloan ? ” 

The merchant also looked back over his shoulder. 
“ Seems to be only one,” he declared positively. 

“Well, you get down here,” commanded Doan. 

“ I don’t mind,” agreed Stephen, and he slipped 
down from the driver’s seat and stood in the road. 

Parry strode ’round to the back of the wagon, 
and looked in at the merchandise stored there. He 
swung himself up, and pushed around among the 


THE AUTOMOBILE 


255 


bags and boxes. ‘‘ Nobody here/^ he announced. 

There’s only the one of them, Peter.” 

“Of course there’s only the one,” said Stephen, 
“ and that one hasn’t got anything you want.” He 
started to take things out of his pockets to show 
the two men that he had nothing concealed in them. 

Doan, a puzzled look on his face, surveyed him 
closely. “ It don’t look as if you had any of it on 
you,” he announced. “ Then what in thunderation 
have you done with it ? ” 

“ It might be hidden among them things,” sug- 
gested Parry, nodding at the wagon. 

“ Now don’t you go to touching none of my 
things,” said the merchant. “ I’ll take my oath 
there’s nothing in that wagon but stuff of mine from 
home which I’m taking along the road to sell.” 

Meanwhile Jonas Hubbel was growing impatient. 
“ Do you two want me to use up all the gasoline ? ” 
he demanded, glancing over his shoulder. “ I don’t 
reckon I’ve got much more than enough to get us 
up to town. I didn’t bargain to let you stop and 
chatter along the road this here way.” 

Doan went to the back of the wagon and poked 
at the bags and boxes. “ Nothing that looks like it 
there,” he said. “ I reckon the others must have 
took it with them.” 

“ I told you there was nothing there but what 
there ought to be, didn’t I ? ” said Mr. Sloan, and he 
too seemed to be growing impatient, and there was 


256 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


a touch of anger in his voice. Now, take your 
hands off my things, and drive on up the road, or 
else pull up so we can get by you.” 

Doan looked at Parry, and Parry looked at 
Doan. Apparently they each thought nothing was 
to be gained by a longer parley with Stephen and 
the merchant. 

‘‘ You mayn’t have it; but the rest of your crowd 
have,” said Doan sullenly, and we mean to get back 
what belongs to us.” 

“ So long as there’s any law in the land we do ! ” 
declared Parry, and he brought his fist down on his 
open palm to add emphasis to his words. 

I’m going to start,” proclaimed Hubbel. 

The two men ran back to the car, and jumped into 
the tonneau. Hubbel started off with a whizzing 
noise that made Sloan’s horses back away frightened. 

“ Good riddance, too,” declared Mr. Sloan. 

Next time anything happens to your car, keep it on 
one side of the road so folks can drive by you.” 

The men in the automobile paid no attention to 
this parting jibe. They looked straight ahead of 
them, while the car sped up the road. 

Another bend in the road hid the automobile from 
sight. Stephen turned around, grinning at Mr. Sloan. 
“ Narrow squeak that time ! ” said he. 

Sloan nodded. ‘‘ Pretty slick young pal of 
yours,” he said. “ Where the dickens do you sup- 
pose he’s got to? ” 




XIX 

GUARDIANS OF THE TREASURE 

Stephen ran up the road far enough to see 
around the next bend. Beyond that the highroad 
ran straight for some distance, and he just caught a 
glimpse of the automobile disappearing a quarter 
of a mile away. It seemed clear that Doan and 
Parry were making for Charleston as fast as they 
could go. 

Satisfied that the two men were out of the way 
for the present, Stephen went back to the wagon, 
where Mr. Sloan had now stepped down from the 
driver’s seat and was stretching his arms in the 
road. The horses, tired with their long day of 
pulling, were glad to rest, and were nibbling at some 
bushes by the roadside. 

“ They’ll stand without hitching all right,” said 
the merchant, “ while we hunt up that lost pal of 
yours.*’ He scratched his cheek. “ He certainly did 
disappear slicker’n a pin. Might have thought he 
was a greased pig from the way he rolled out from 
the back of the wagon.” 

‘‘ Tom’s clever all right,” said Stephen. I 
reckon as soon as we came around that bend, and 
you pulled up your horses, he had his eyes on the 
road, and dropped out at the back before Parry 
257 


258 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


turned ’round. And the way the wagon stood he 
could have done that, and sneaked into the bushes 
without Parry catching a glimpse of him, even if he 
turned ’round mighty quick.” 

“And where the dickens is he now?” inquired 
Sloan. 

For answer Stephen went back along the road. 
The merchant followed him; but there was no sign 
of Tom to be seen. He wasn’t hiding behind any of 
the bushes along the road. “ He might have taken 
to his heels and run,” suggested Sloan presently. 

“ I don’t think he’d run far,” said Stephen. 
“ He’d know that we would probably be looking for 
him soon. The chances are he’d stick around here 
somewhere, only so well hidden that nobody could 
see him, unless he wanted them to.” Then address- 
ing the woods to the east of the road Stephen said 
in a loud voice, “ They’ve gone, Tom. It’s only 
Mr. Sloan and me here. The coast’s clear now.” 

Stephen’s voice could have been heard a good 
distance through the woods, but there came no im- 
mediate answer. Then Stephen whistled, imitating 
the call of the killdeer, and presently the answering 
note came back through the trees. 

“ That’s our private signal,” Stephen explained. 
He went through the bushes in the direction from 
which the whistle had come, then he stopped and 
repeated the call. Again it was answered. After 
a few minutes he and Mr. Sloan stopped under the 



they’ve gone, have they?” tom called down 



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GUARDIANS OF THE TREASURE 259 


spreading branches of a splendid oak. ‘‘ It’s all 
right, Tom,” Stephen called out. “ There’s just the 
two of us here.” A piece of bark fell on Stephen’s 
head. Looking up he saw his cousin straddling a 
limb of the oak, well protected by leaves. 

“ They’ve gone, have they? ” Tom called down. 

“As fast as Hubbel’s car could take them,” 
Stephen answered. “ The coast’s clear. Come on 
down.” 

Tom climbed along the limb to the trunk of the 
oak and started to come down. 

“ Where’s the haversack ? ” cried Stephen. “ You 
haven’t got it with you.” 

Tom grinned as he looked down at his cousin. 
“ I’ll show you,” he said, and climbing round to the 
other side of the trunk he brought out the haversack 
from a good-sized hole. “ They might even have 
spied me, and not found that,” said he; “but I 
think it would have taken them a week of Sundays 
to find out where I was.” 

Boy and haversack reached the ground safely. 
“ Well, you had me fooled for sure,” declared Mr. 
Sloan. “ When that man with the black moustache 
called to you to come down from the wagon I won- 
dered what you’d do, and when I found you warn’t 
there I was plumb amazed. I didn’t see where you 
could have got to.” 

“ I had my eyes open when we got to that turn 

in the road,” explained Tom, “ and I guess I saw 


260 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


the automobile as soon as you did. When you called 
out whoa, and pulled in the horses, I rolled over the 
board at the back of the wagon, dropped into the 
road, and made for the bushes on the nearer side. 
I went up through them a good ways, and when I 
saw this big tree I thought that would make as good 
a hiding-place as any. Then to make sure, I put the 
bag in that hole in the trunk. ’’ 

“ That bag of minerals seems to be fairly valu- 
able/' said Mr. Sloan, with a smile. 

Both the boys smiled as Tom slung the haversack 
again over his shoulder. 

ril tell you about it some day, if you'll come to 
my house in Charleston," said Stephen. 

Oh, I don’t want to butt into anybody’s secrets/’ 
declared Mr. Sloan, amiably. I had my sport in 
seeing you two rascals get the better of those two 
men. But we’d better be driving along now if we 
want to get up to the river by night-fall.’’ 

The three took their seats in the wagon, and 
Sloan drove on. The boys kept very wide awake 
now, for fear that at any minute they might find the 
automobile stranded in the road in front of them. 
But apparently Jonas Hubbel was meeting with no 
further difficulties. There was no sign of the car, 
and six o’clock found them at a farm-house without 
any more adventures. 

Mr. Sloan announced that they would have sup- 
per there. The Ashley River was only a few miles 


GUARDIANS OF THE TREASURE 261 


to the north now, and as they could easily reach it 
that evening there was no reason that they shouldn’t 
satisfy their appetites. So they had a good supper, 
and set out to complete the journey. 

They drove for a couple of miles, and then Sloan 
pointed ahead to a dim light. 

‘‘ There’s the river,” said he. “ There’s a tavern 
back on the left of the road where I generally spend 
the night when I get here after dark. I reckon they 
can give you boys a room there, if you want it.” 

“ I think we’d better push on,” said Tom. We 
ought to be able to get a boat somewhere along the 
shore, oughtn’t we, Steve ? ” 

Surely,” answered his cousin. ‘‘ I’ve been over 
there lots of times, and plenty of men have row- 
boats for rent to take you to Charleston.” 

Tom took out his pocket-book and handed a two- 
dollar bill to Mr. Sloan. ‘‘ You got us here all right,” 
Tom said, and it’s been a big help to us. It would 
have taken us twice as long to do it on foot.” 

‘‘ I reckon it would if you’d carried that precious 
bag of minerals,” said the merchant. He put the 
two-dollar bill in his pocket. Well, I’ve enjoyed 
the trip first-rate. Some time when I’m up in the 
neighborhood of Mr. Sims’ house. I’ll stop in and 
hear your side of the story.” 

By now they had reached a clearing in front of 
the tavern. The latter was an old building with a 
lantern hung from an iron bar over the front door. 


262 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


It doesn’t look very fine,” said Mr. Sloan, “ but 
the man who keeps it is a good-natured fellow, and 
he takes good care of the horses. If you’ll come in 
for a minute. I’ll ask him where you’ll find a boat- 
man to take you across the river.” 

The wagon stopped before the tavern door, and 
the passengers got down. The nearest door led them 
in to a small sitting-room, and here Tom and Stephen 
stopped a minute to adjust the strap of the haversack, 
while Mr. Sloan went into the hall in search of the 
tavern-keeper. 

It’s a queer old place, isn’t it? ” said Stephen, 
after they had fixed the strap, and he had shouldered 
the haversack in place of Tom. “ I don’t think we’d 
better stop here long. There’s no telling who might 
be prowling ’round.” 

A door on the other side of the room from that 
next to the hall stood partly open. Tom walked 
over to it, attracted by the sound of voices. Close to 
the door he stopped to listen. A man in the next 
room was saying, ‘‘ You’ve got the warrant all right, 
have you? Hubbel says that man Sloan always 
stops here for the night. We can serve the papers 
on ’em when they drive in.” 

Yes, I’ve got the warrant all right,” said another 
voice. 

“ Seems to me I heard a team pull up a couple 
of minutes ago,” went on the first speaker. 

By now Tom knew the voice. He turned from 


GUARDIANS OF THE TREASURE 263 


the door, caught Stephen by the sleeve, and hurried 
him out at the door on to the road. Once outside 
he whispered, “ Parry’s in there, and he’s got a man 
with a warrant ! ” 

‘‘ Parry ! ” exclaimed Stephen. “Are you sure ? ” 

“Absolutely sure,” muttered Tom. “ We’d better 
be getting away from here quick as we can ! ” 

They stole down to the road, where they kept in 
the shadow of the trees. “ I suppose they went over 
to Charleston, got a warrant, and came back here 
to seize us for stealing their property,” muttered 
Tom. ' “ We’ve got to keep our eyes open now.” 

“ I know the way to the river,” answered Stephen. 
With his hand clasping the precious haversack, he 
led the way to the river bank, and then along it. 
There were a number of houses back from the shore, 
but they were all dimly lighted. Across the Ashley 
River the boys could see the lights of Charleston. 
On the bank were several boat-houses, and they 
passed a couple of floats, but they saw no one to ask 
about a boat. 

“ I wish we dared take one of those,” said 
Stephen, pointing to a couple of row-boats tied to 
the wharf. 

“ Better not,” said Tom. “ Then they might 
arrest us for stealing somebody else’s property. That 
one warrant’s enough.” 

They went farther up the shore, but with no 
success in finding a boatman. 


264 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


‘‘ I don’t like this much,”' said Stephen. “ They 
may have fixed it so that if we ask for a boat some- 
body will nab us. Nothing doing along here. The 
only chance is that we may find one farther down 
the bank.” 

Keeping as well hidden as they could, they re- 
traced their steps. Again they saw the light over 
the tavern door. They hurried across the road, and 
up the other shore. Presently they came to a man 
sitting on a bench before a small cabin smoking a 
pipe. Tom went up to him. ‘‘ Do you know where 
we could rent a boat to take us over to Charleston ? ” 
he asked. 

“ It’s pretty late for boatmen,” said the man. 

How much did you want to pay ? ” 

“ What’s a fair price? ” Tom inquired. 

Well, it will cost you a dollar, if you want my 
boat,” said the man. 

“All right,” said Tom, “ we’ll take it. We want 
to get over to Charleston as soon as we can.” 

In spite of the boys’ urgency, however, the boat- 
man was provokingly slow. It seemed as if it were 
impossible for him to move fast. He got up from 
his bench, went into the cabin and stayed there for 
some time, while the two boys, fearful lest Parry 
and the man with the warrant might appear at any 
minute, suspicious also that possibly the boatman 
might be in league to catch them, kept in the shelter 
of the trees, and tried to curb their impatience. After 


GUARDIANS OF THE TREASURE 265 


some time the man appeared again, carrying a pair 
of oars. He walked slowly down to the shore, found 
a tin can, baled water out of a row-boat with it, 
and at last announced that he was ready for his pas- 
sengers to embark. 

Where do you want to go ? he asked, as he 
took his seat at the oars. 

''Around the Battery, and up to the east side, 
ril tell you where,” said Stephen. "Just you get 
started, and I’ll direct you.” 

" Land sakes, but you are in a hurry ! ” grumbled 
the boatman. "What’s the trouble? You got the 
whole night, ain’t you? ” 

The boys made no answer. Their one desire was 
to get away from the shore. 

Slowly the boatman dipped his oars in the water 
and pulled out from the bank. The starlight showed 
their course plainly. Rowing first to the westward, 
the boatman rested on his oars a minute, while he 
rolled up his sleeves. Stephen in the bow thought 
he could catch a glimpse of some men coming out 
from the door of the tavern " Perhaps you’d like 
me to do the rowing,” he suggested. 

" No, I wouldn’t,” said the boatman. " I don’t 
trust no one with this boat but myself.” Again he 
dipped the oars into the water, and slowly paddled 
along. Out across the river they went, and then 
turned to the east. They rounded the southern point 
of the city, and went up along the eastern side. 


266 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


You’re sure you know where you want me to 
land you? ” growled the boatman after a while. 

I’ll tell you,” said Stephen, who was watching 
the bank intently. 

There’s no need going further than you have 
to,” the boatman remarked presently. ‘‘ You said 
Charleston, you know. You didn’t say you wanted 
to go up into the country.” 

“ I know,” said Stephen. ‘‘ You might point the 
bow in now.” 

The boatman pulled toward the shore, Stephen 
still keeping a sharp look-out ahead. He let the 
man draw close to the shore, and then directed him 
to pull along parallel to it. After a few minutes of 
this he told the man to stop rowing, and let the 
boat drift a minute. They were near a wharf; but 
there were a couple of men sitting on it. Over the 
still water they could hear the men’s voices. 

Just a touch of the left oar,” muttered Stephen. 

I want to make sure this is the right place before 
we land.” 

'' Might think you was a blockader,” growled 
the boatman. 

'' Keep quiet,” whispered Stephen. 

They were only twenty yards or so from the 
landing when Stephen thought he could recognize 
the voice of one of the men. It sounded to him 
like Peter Doan. 

“ Hold on there,” he whispered. Back' water 


GUARDIANS OF THE TREASURE 267 


with your left oar ; now pull away again. This isn't 
the place we want." 

“ Seems to me you're mighty particular," said 
the boatman. “ My job was to land you at the 
town. This is as good a place as any other." 

“If you'll do as we tell you, I'll give you fifty 
cents more," muttered Tom. 

The boatman, muttering something to himself, 
did as Stephen bade, and pulled the boat out into 
the stream again. The sound of the voices in the 
boat appeared to have reached the men on the dock, 
for Stephen, closely watching the shore, saw two of 
the men on the wharf move along the docks in the 
same direction the row-boat was going. He sus- 
pected that while Parry and one constable were 
watching for them at the tavern where Mr. Sloan 
stopped for the night, Doan and another man were 
patrolling the wharves to seize them in case they 
got across the river. 

It was a difficult problem to decide where to 
land with the least chance of being caught by Doan, 
and it was made more difficult by the fact that the 
boatman was getting more and more sullen, and was 
casting more and more hints as to something wrong 
in their actions since it was so hard for them to 
make a landing. 

“ What be you? Two fugitives from justice? 
he demanded once. “ I didn't figure on helping 
anybody to break the law." 


268 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


“ Please don’t speak so loud,” begged Stephen, 
realizing that voices carried far over the water in 
the still night. 

‘^Afraid of being caught by somebody, are you ? ” 
growled the boatman. Now, see here. I’m not 
going to row all the way up the Cooper River to- 
night. You got to decide pretty quick where you 
want me to land you.” 

Stephen’s keen eyes saw a warehouse close to the 
edge of the water, and only a short distance in front 
of them. As well as he could make out a ladder 
seemed to hang from the warehouse door down to 
the water. 

“ Pull in there,” he directed, pointing to this 
ladder. The shelter of the building would at least 
give them temporary protection from pursuers. 

The boatman, looking over his shoulder, growled. 

That’s a pretty place to land,” said he. Howso- 
ever I’d rather put you off there than row the rest 
of the night.” 

The boat drew near the dock. Tom took a dollar 
bill and a silver half-dollar from his pocket and put 
them on the thwart beside the boatman. There you 
are,” said he. ‘'All you have to do is to pull up to 
that ladder, and the money’s yours.” 

A minute later the boat bumped against the 
ladder, and Stephen, nimble as a cat, caught at the 
rungs and was scrambling up to the warehouse. Tom 
came after him; and as he climbed he heard the 


GUARDIANS OF THE TREASURE 269 


boatman mutter, Two young scamps, I reckon,’^ 
as he pushed his boat out into the water. 

The warehouse door was unlocked, the building 
being in a dilapidated condition, and apparently un- 
used. Stephen pushed the door open, and Tom closed 
it again after them. A window at the opposite end 
let in some light, and by this they detected a door 
at one side of the building. 

The window was low enough to give them a view 
into the street that ran along the water-front. As 
the boys, partly hidden, looked through the dusty 
pane of glass they saw a couple of men approaching. 
A street lamp shed some light, and as the men neared 
the window both Stephen and Tom recognized one 
of them as Doan. The other was a stranger to 
them. 

They’ve been tracking our boat up along the 
water-front,” whispered Stephen. “ I thought I 
heard Doan’s voice down by that dock, where we 
thought of landing.” 

“ They’ll wonder what’s become of us when they 
don’t see our boat from the next wharf,” Tom mut- 
tered. We’d better get out of this shed as quick 
as we can.” 

There was only one door on to the dock, and 
that opened in the very direction where the two men 
had now gone. The only other way of escape was 
by the window. Stephen put his eye to the crack of 
the door while Tom tried to open the window. At 


270 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


first it stuck and refused to budge, but after much 
pounding, which Tom did with as little noise as 
possible, the window consented to open. 

“All right, Steve,’' Tom whispered. 

Stephen ran across to the window, climbed over 
the ledge, and dropped to the ground outside. Then 
Tom scrambled over. Hardly were they both out in 
the street before a voice at the warehouse corner 
made them jump; then a street lamp showed them 
the round face of Doan and his small sharp eyes. 

“ Run! ” muttered Stephen, and at the word he 
was off like a flash, dashing for the corner of the 
nearest street. 

The bag of guineas was heavy, but Stephen had 
run many races at school and was as fleet as a deer. 
Tom, unincumbered with any extra baggage, ran 
as fast. Back of them they heard calls to stop from 
Doan and the man with him. They knew the men 
were giving chase, but neither boy took the time to 
glance over his shoulder. 

The streets along the water-front were narrow 
and poorly lighted. The boys would dash down one 
alley and turn up another. Once or twice Stephen 
doubled on his tracks, and gradually he worked his 
way up nearer the centre of the city and far from 
the water. 

Presently the boys slackened their Steps and 
stopped fora few minutes’ rest in the shelter of §ome 
lilac bushes that stood before a house, 


GUARDIANS OF THE TREASURE 271 


“ I reckon we’ve thrown them off the track now,” 
said Stephen with a chuckle. “ I’ve played hare and 
hounds through some of these streets before. If I 
hadn’t had this bag I could have mixed them up a 
lot more. I could have taken them over some fences 
that I don’t think Doan would want to climb.” 

“ Let me have the bag now,” said Tom. Stephen, 
whose shoulder was pretty well tired with the weight 
of the haversack, handed the bag over to his cousin. 

“ We’re not very far from my house now,” said 
he. “ It’s lucky Doan doesn’t know my name, or 
he might have decided to wait for me there.” 

Making sure there was no one back of them in 
the street, the two boys stepped out from the bushes 
and trotted along toward Stephen’s house. In a 
few minutes they reached the old white mansion, 
went in at the side gate, walked up the path, and 
stepped on to the porch. Through the window they 
could see Stephen’s father and mother in the sitting- 
room. A red-shaded lamp cast a warm glow of 
welcome. Stephen took his key from his pocket, 
unlocked the door, and marched into the sitting- 
room. 

“ Here we are,” he announced, ‘‘ two of us, at 
least, and we’re mighty glad to be here too ! ” 

Mr. and Mrs. Sims were delighted to see the two 
boys. 

“ We were beginning to wonder what had be- 
come of you,” said Stephen’s father. “ Colonel 


272 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Whitney wrote us after the storm saying you were 
all right. A day or two later we had another letter 
from him saying that you three boys and a Mr. Blos- 
som had gone on a cruise in a motor-boat. I suppose 
that means you couldn’t locate Blackbeard’s island.” 

'' But we did locate it,” said Stephen. “ We 
found the very place, and we found the very spot that 
was marked with the red cross; thanks to Tom.” 

Good enough ! ” exclaimed Mr. Sims. “And 
what did you find at the red cross ? ” 

“The pirate’s treasure!” said Tom proudly. 
“And here’s half of it.” He slung the haversack 
from his shoulder and deposited it in the centre of 
the sitting-room table. 

“ You don’t mean to tell me that you really found 
something hidden there?” exclaimed Mrs. Sims. 

“ Indeed we did, mother,” said Stephen, who was 
now sitting on the arm of her chair with his hand on 
her shoulder. 

Tom unbuckled the strap of the haversack, pulled 
out the cotton waste, and then tilted the bag and 
poured the stream of guineas on to the table. In the 
bright light of the lamp there was no mistaking the 
shine of the gold coins. Mr. Sims stood up and 
gave a long whistle of surprise. 

“ My word! ” he said. “ You did strike it rich, 
didn’t you? I hadn’t the faintest idea you’d find 
anything there.” 

“And that’s only half what we found,” said 


GUARDIANS OF THE TREASURE 273 

Stephen. “ Mr. Blossom and Rodney have the other 
half.” 

Mr. Sims picked up one of the coins and held it 
close to the light. “ There’s no doubt but what that’s 
an English coin,” said he, “ and it’s gold sure enough. 
Well, you boys have certainly had a great adven- 
ture!” 

‘‘ We surely have,” agreed Tom. “All sorts of 
adventures; and we hardly know whether they’re 
over now. There’s a couple of men in town would 
like to get their hands on us to-night. We had to 
run half-way here from the dock with them after us.” 

“You didn’t steal the guineas from them?” 
asked Mr. Sims. 

“ No, indeed,” said his son. “ They stole them 
from us. Tom and I came by land, and Mr. Blossom 
and Rodney are bringing their half of the guineas 
in Mr. Blossom’s boat. I should think they’d have 
been here by this time. You haven’t heard anything 
from Rodney? ” 

“ Not a word,” said Mrs. Sims. 

“ I wonder what can have happened to them ? ” 
Tom asked. “ They surely ought to have reached 
Charleston by now.” 

“ I tell you what,” said Stephen, “ weVe got our 
share of the guineas here, and we’ll get father to lock 
them up in his safe, and then our hands are free. I 
don’t care what Doan tries to do now, as long as he 
can’t get his paws on the money. I suggest Tom and 


274 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


I have a look at the docks again, to see if we can 
get any news of Mr. Blossom’s boat.” 

‘‘ It’s pretty late,” put in Mrs. Sims. Ft’s after 
eleven.” 

I think we ought to have a look for them,” 
urged Stephen. '' It might be we could be some help 
if they’ve got into trouble.” 

Tom had packed the guineas back in the haver- 
sack, and now handed it to Mr. Sims. ‘‘If you’ll 
put it in your safe, we’ll feel as if we’d got a big 
load off our shoulders. Uncle George,” said he. “ I’d 
like to see it locked up before I leave the house.” 

“ That’s right,” agreed Mr. Sims. “ You can’t 
be too careful when you’ve got a treasure like that 
lying around. I must say you’ve handled this mighty 
well. It wasn’t more than ten days ago when you 
found that box with the map inside it, and now 
you’ve actually put your hands on Blackboard’s treas- 
ure. You ought to go into the business of finding 
such things.” 

“ I wish I could,” said Tom, grinning. 

Mr. Sims and the two boys went up-stairs with 
the haversack, and locked it in the small safe that 
stood in Mr. Sims’ room. “ I think that’s a better 
place to keep it,” declared Stephen, “ than the chest 
we left at Calkins’ Cove.” 

They went down-stairs again, and Tom and 
Stephen picked up their hats. “ We won’t be gone 
long,” said Stephen, “ but I think we ought to have 


GUARDIANS OF THE TREASURE 275 


a look around to make sure ‘ The Wild Goose ’ 
hasn’t met with any trouble.” 

“ I don’t believe you’ll get any trace of it at this 
time of night,” said his father. However, you two 
have been managing your own affairs for some time 
now, so don’t let me interfere. I dare say your 
mother won’t mind if you sleep late to-morrow. It 
isn’t every day we have a bag of guineas brought to 
our house.” 

The boys went out-doors and down the street. 
They took a trolley car and rode to the southern 
point of the city. There they left the car and made 
for the wharves. ‘‘ I should think ^ The Wild Goose ’ 
ought to have got here before us,” said Stephen. 

“ So should I,” agreed Tom. If she hasn’t got 
in, Doan and Parry are probably keeping a look-out 
for her. If they couldn’t catch us they’ll try all the 
harder to get hold of the others.” 

That’s what I think,” said Stephen. “ It won’t 
take long to go along the shore and see if we can 
locate the boat. If we find it, we’ll know that some- 
thing’s happened to Mr. Blossom and Rodney since 
they landed. If we don’t find it, we’ll have to keep 
watch in the morning and try to give them the tip 
that these fellows are on the look-out for them.” 

There was little motion along the water at that 
hour of the night. The boys went rapidly from one 
landing-stage to another, but at none of them did 
they find the familiar lines of Mr. Blossom’s boat. 


XX 

THE ADVENTURES OF A MOTOR-BOAT 

Before Tom and Stephen had left the neighbor- 
hood of the point of land where they had found the 
bag of guineas, Rodney and Mr. Blossom had em- 
barked in “ The Wild Goose,” intending to run north 
for a couple of hours before stopping for the night. 
Their half of the guineas, still in the bag in which 
Doan and Parry had hidden them, were stored in a 
small compartment under the bow. 

The night was clear, and Mr. Blossom had no 
difficulty in steering The Wild Goose ” north along 
the shore. At the end of a couple of hours he slowed 
down his engine. 

‘‘ I don’t believe our friends the enemy could 
catch up with us now,” said he, even if they reached 
that point where we found the guineas a short time 
after we left it. If you feel as sleepy as I do, 
Rodney, the idea of a comfortable snooze on shore 
will appeal to you pretty strongly.” 

I was beginning to find it hard to keep my 
eyes open,” Rodney admitted. “ I’m ready to turn 
in whenever you are.” 

The boat was accordingly steered to shore, and 
her crew of two picked out a stretch of beach shel- 
tered by wind-breaks of pines at the northern end. 

276 


THE ADVENTURES OF A MOTOR-BOAT m 


They drew '' The Wild Goose ” close to the bank, and 
made her fast by tying her painter to a tree. 

“ No use running any extra risk,’' said Rodney. 
“ Now we’ve got our hands on the guineas, we’d 
better keep hold of them. I’m going to take them 
out of the boat, and put them where nobody can steal 
them without my knowing it.” 

The bag was brought out from under the bow, 
and Rodney, unconsciously imitating his brother’s 
method of safe-guarding the treasure, spread a 
sweater over the bag and used it as a pillow. With 
the blankets, the two made themselves comfortable 
and soon fell asleep. 

They woke to find themselves being stared at 
somewhat like a side-show at a circus. A stout 
woman, her hands on her hips, stood looking at 
them, and in a half-circle about her stood almost 
a dozen children. As Rodney opened his eyes one 
of the small boys clapped his hands and crowed like 
a rooster, whereupon the others began to crow also, 
in spite of the fact that the woman tried to keep 
them quiet. 

“ Ssh ! ” she whispered. “ You’ll be waking them 
two.” 

The two were already awake, however, sitting 
up and rubbing their eyes, as if ashamed of being 
caught asleep in broad daylight. 

Good morning,” said Mr. Blossom, and he 
bowed to the stout woman, and waved his hands to 


278 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


the dancing children. The bowing and waving were 
a signal for an outburst of more crowing by the 
smaller members of the audience. 

A broad smile showed on the woman’s face. 
“ Good morning to you,” she said. “ We live just 
the other side of those trees, and one of the young- 
sters said there was two strangers camping here, 
so we all came to have a look at you.” 

‘‘ Just the way the Indians would have come to 
look at the first white men to land here,” suggested 
Mr. Blossom, laughing. ‘‘ Well, we speak the same 
tongue fortunately; but we haven’t brought any 
beads or knick-knacks to make you presents.” He 
glanced at Rodney’s pillow, and saw that the bag 
was still under the sweater. 

The children, evidently feeling that some sort of 
a game was on foot, began to clap their hands and 
dance about as if they were indeed a tribe of 
Indians. 

What have we got into ? ” demanded Mr. Blos- 
som. “ Is there an orphan asylum on the other side 
of the woods ? ” 

The woman chuckled. '' No, sir, there ain’t any 
orphans here. Most of them’s mine. The other side 
of the woods is Putney ville. I reckon you didn’t 
know you was camping just outside of town.” 

“ How big is Putneyville ? ” asked Mr. Blossom. 

There’s a dozen families lives there,” the 
woman answered. 


THE ADVENTURES OF A MOTOR-BOAT 279 


Oh, it’s quite a large place, then ! ” said Mr. 
Blossom, and he stood up and brushed his hair with 
his hand, and smoothed out his coat. I wonder if 
we could get some breakfast there.” 

‘‘ I can let you have some,” agreed the woman 
hospitably. ‘‘ It’s only a step through the woods to 
my house.” 

Good,” said Mr. Blossom. 

He picked up the sweaters and blankets, and 
taking them down to the shore threw them in the 
motor-boat. ‘‘ We’d better take our bag of gold 
with us, Rodney,” said he. ‘'We may want to use 
some of the things in it if we meet any real Indians.” 

“ Oh, so that’s a bag of gold ! ” said the woman, 
pointing to the sack that Rodney now clutched in his 
hands. “ I reckon you two are pretty good jokers ! 
Well, we ain’t got no Indians in Putney ville, though 
there’s some people that behaves like Indians some- 
times.” She led the way through the woods, fol- 
lowed by the troop of children, and then by Rodney 
and Mr. Blossom, who carried the sack between them. 

They had breakfast in the woman’s kitchen, with 
the sack placed where Rodney could keep his eyes on 
it. Afterwards, the two went back to “ The Wild 
Goose.” Mr. Blossom looked in his gasoline tank 
and found it was almost empty. 

“ I’ve got to stock up somewhere,” said he. “ I 
haven’t got enough there to last us up to Charleston.” 

Rodney stored the sack in its former cubby-hole, 


280 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


and kept guard over it now, while Henry Blossom 
went back to the settlement. One of the twelve 
houses appeared to be a store in a small way, but 
although the store-keeper had the most varied assort- 
ment of goods for sale, he didn’t include gasoline 
among them, nor could he direct his customer to any 
place in the neighborhood where he would be apt to 
find what he wanted. It appeared that Mr. Blossom 
could not have reached a place where it would have 
been harder to obtain gasoline. 

But IVe got to get it somehow,’^ he said, 
scratching his head in perplexity. Fve got to get 
to Charleston in my boat, and I’ve got to have gaso- 
line to get there.” 

The store-keeper looked provokingly blank. I 
don’t know what you’re going to do for it,” he said. 
‘‘ We don’t have no use for it hereabouts.” 

Isn’t there anyone near that runs an automobile 
or a motor-boat ? ” Mr. Blossom asked, after think- 
ing for several minutes. 

No, there ain’t,” said the other man. Well, 
yes, there’s one man, Mr. Graham, who lives out on 
Cross-Keys Island. He’s got a big motor-boat, but 
he ain’t in the business of selling supplies.” 

‘‘If he’s got a motor-boat he must have some 
way of getting gasoline,” argued Mr. Blossom. 
“ Where does he live ? ” 

The store-keeper very kindly left his store and 
walked down to the shore with the stranger. 


THE ADVENTURES OF A MOTOR-BOAT 281 


There/’ He pointed to an island a couple of 
miles to the east. “ Mr. Graham’s a rich man who 
owns that island and lives out there part of the sum- 
mer. He’s over there now. He’s got a good-sized 
house, and all sorts of boats. He’s grouchy in some 
ways, but maybe he’d let you have what you want, if 
you struck him just right.” 

Then I’ll try to strike him just right,” said 
Mr. Blossom. I think I have enough gasoline to 
run me out to his place.” 

He went back to ‘‘ The Wild Goose ” and told 
Rodney what he had learned. He started the engine 
and headed out to the east, while Rodney waved his 
hand to the audience of children on the shore. For 
half the distance the engine purred slowly, then it 
began to stutter, then it stopped. 

Guess we’ll have to row the rest of the way,” 
said the owner. 

“All right,” Rodney agreed. “ It isn’t far now.” 

Fifteen minutes later “ The Wild Goose ” was 
pulled up at the side of a little float at the nortern end 
end of Cross-Keys Island. Mr. Blossom looked at his 
watch. 

“ Nearly twelve o’clock,” said he. “ We’re not 
making very good time to Charleston. However, 
you can’t run ' The WHld Goose ’ without gas. 
Now let’s see what Mr. Graham’s like.” 

A path led up from the wharf to a low house built 
like a bungalow, looking very comfortable, with its 


BLACKBEAED’S ISLAND 


282 

broad porch and wicker furniture. The two arrivals 
carried the sack between them, being unwilling to 
trust it out of their sight for a minute. A knock on 
the front door brought a negro servant, who in- 
formed them that Mr. Graham had gone sailing that 
morning, and might not be back for some time. 
Mr. Blossom explained that he wanted to buy some 
gasoline. The servant said that the gentlemen would 
have to wait until Mr. Graham returned, and invited 
them to make themselves comfortable on the porch. 

‘‘ Nothing else to do, I guess,” said Mr. Blossom, 
and he and Rodney sat down in two big wicker 
chairs. 

There was a fine view of the ocean from the 
porch. The place was well kept, and evidently be- 
longed to a man of means. After some time the 
negro servant returned with a pitcher of lemonade 
and some cakes and set them on a table by the guests. 

Well, this is very fine,” said Rodney, and 
since we’ve got the bag with us we oughtn’t to com- 
plain.” They drank the lemonade. They discussed 
what Tom and Stephen were probably doing. They 
walked about the porch. But they had to wait a long 
time before the owner of the house returned. 

As a matter of fact it was nearly three o’clock 
before the sail-boat drew in sight and landed at the 
wharf. A few minutes later a short, sunburnt man 
with grizzled gray hair and moustache came up to 
the porch and looked somewhat surprised to find 


THE ADVENTURES OF A MOTOR-BOAT 283 


two strangers there. Mr. Blossom introduced Rod- 
ney and himself, and explained the object of their 
visit. 

‘‘Want to buy some gasoline, do you?’’ said 
Mr. Graham, in an abrupt way of speaking. “ Well, 
it’s pretty hard stuff to buy around here. However, 
I might be able to let you have a little. Come in to 
lunch first; I’m hungry as a bear.” 

It was evident that Mr. Graham was a person 
who must be humored. He was dictator on his island, 
and the best way to get what one wanted from him 
was to agree with his notions; so Rodney and Mr. 
Blossom followed him into the house, putting their 
hats on the bag, which they stood on a chair in the 
hall, and went into the dining-room. Fortunately, 
Rodney’s chair at the table was so placed that he 
could have a view of the sack in the hall. Mr. 
Graham was a great talker, and in spite of his rather 
peppery way of saying things, he seemed glad to have 
two guests to talk to. When he discovered that 
Mr. Blossom owned an island near Beaufort, and 
was fond of hunting and fishing, he began to swap 
yarns with him. He had so much to tell him, in 
fact, that after lunch was over he led him back to the 
porch, and over a cigar continued to relate hunting 
experiences. Several times Mr. Blossom suggested 
that they would like to buy the gasoline and be on 
their way again, but each time Mr. Graham waved 
the idea away. 


e84 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


There’s plenty of time, my good sir,” he would 
say. We never do anything in a hurry here. I’ll 
let you have all the gasoline you want, but let’s not 
talk about that now.” 

So it went on until Mr. Blossom glanced at his 
watch. To his surprise he found it was six o’clock. 
“ Really, Mr. Graham,” said he, standing up, “ I 
must be going on. We wanted to reach Charleston 
to-night.” 

“ What, to-night ! ” exclaimed the other. ‘‘ Non- 
sense, my dear sir, you’re going to spend the night 
here with me ! You couldn’t do anything at Charles- 
ton to-night, you know. You wouldn’t get there 
until midnight. I’ll give you the gas in the morning.” 

He rapped on the floor with his stick, and when 
the servant appeared said, ‘‘ Charles, see that the 
two guest-rooms are put in order. These gentlemen 
will spend the night with me.” 

‘‘ Oh, no, thank you ” — began Mr. Blossom ; but 
the other waved his argument aside. 

‘‘ The two gentlemen will spend the night with 
me,” he repeated, and then he chuckled. I’d like 
to know how you’re going to get away, unless I give 
you the gasoline.” 

‘‘Well, I’ll admit,” said Mr. Blossom, with a 
smile, “ that you’ve got us there.” 

“ Of course I have,” said the host genially, “ and 
I’m going to keep you here until to-morrow. That 
reminds me of the way the old pirates used to do; 


THE ADVENTURES OF A MOTOR-BOAT 285 


their guests had to stop as long as the chief wanted. 
By the way, do you have any stories of Captain 
Kidd’s treasure down at Beaufort? ’’ 

Oh, yes,” answered Mr. Blossom, in an off- 
hand way. I suppose there are stories of pirate^s 
treasure all along the coast.” 

Mr. Graham leaned forward in his wicker chair 
and shook his forefinger mysteriously at his guests. 
‘‘ But I’ve got something better than that,” said he, 
a twinkle in his eye. There’s a place on my island 
where Captain Kidd is said to have lived for a week 
while hiding Spanish gold in the woods.” He 
glanced at Rodney. '' Doesn’t that make you open 
your eyes ? ” he demanded. “ I guess you’d like to 
have a look at the place where Kidd camped out. 
I’ve always thought it was just the proper place for 
a pirate. I’ll show it to you in the morning.” 

In the meantime, Mr. Graham insisted on show- 
ing his guests the grounds near the house. He took 
them to his garden, and then to a point from which 
there was a fine view of the coast, and when they 
came back from this walk it was time for Rodney 
and Mr. Blossom to go up to their rooms to get 
ready for dinner. 

‘‘I’ll show you the rest of the island in the 
morning,” Mr. Graham called after them, as they 
started for the stairs. “ Hello, what are you doing 
with that heavy bag? Let Charles carry it up for 
you.” 


286 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


So Charles, the colored servant, took the precious 
bag and carried it up-stairs, being discreet enough 
not to ask what might be in it that gave it such a 
metallic sound. In his own room Rodney locked the 
bag in the drawer of the bureau and pocketed the 
key. I should think that ought to be perfectly 
safe,” he said to Mr. Blossom, when he explained 
what he had done. 

Perfectly safe,” agreed his friend. I don’t 
think our host will start hunting for pirate treasure 
in his own house.” 

After dinner they sat on the porch again, and 
now Mr. Graham told them wonderful stories of 
hunts for pirate gold. He appeared to be a great 
authority on the subject of buccaneers, and had him- 
self occasionally gone on a search for some^-of their 
hiding-places, although he admitted that he had 
never yet found any of their treasure. “And I’m 
afraid I never will,” said he; “ but it adds a pleasant 
romance to my island to think that possibly those old 
rascals did stop here once.” 

They spent a very pleasant evening on the porch, 
for Mr. Graham was a most entertaining talker, and 
when he said good-night he assured them that he 
would let them have all the gasoline they wanted next 
day, which was a recompense for the delay in their 
trip to Charleston. 

Next morning, however, Mr. Graham insisted on 
showing his two guests the rest of his island. Mr. 


THE ADVENTURES OF A MOTOR-BOAT 287 


Blossom protested that they must make an early 
start, but again the owner waved the suggestion 
aside airily. 

You can get to town by night easily,’^ said he, 
“ and I don’t want you to go without seeing what a 
beautiful place this is. Then my young friend surely 
wants to see where Captain Kidd camped out for a 
week.” 

There was nothing for Rodney to do but say 
that of course he would like to see the place, so they 
tramped across the island to the southern end, where 
Mr. Graham showed them a small beach backed by 
woods, and explained that it was here tradition said 
that the famous buccaneer had landed and hidden 
his treasure. 

I’ve searched and searched,” said he, “ but I 
haven’t found any yet. Perhaps you’d like to stay 
and help me look for it. How about that?” he 
asked, turning to Rodney. 

‘‘ It’s very good of you,” Rodney answered, but 
we really must be in Charleston to-night.” 

‘‘ I never saw two people in such a hurry ! ” ex- 
claimed Mr. Graham, laughing. Well, well, I 
mustn’t urge you any more, I suppose. We’ll go 
back to the house now ; and I’ll have my man fill your 
gasoline tank, and Charles shall put you up a box of 
provisions.” 

It took some time, however, to fill the gasoline 
tank of “ The Wild Goose,” and by the time that job 


288 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


was completed Mr. Graham proposed the two should 
lunch with him. So they had a light lunch ; and then, 
followed by Charles, carrying the bag of guineas 
and a small box of provisions, they went down to 
the wharf. 

‘‘ What the dickens have you got in that sack ? 
Mr. Graham demanded, as he saw Rodney take it 
from Charles and stow it under the bow. 

'' Pirate gold,'’ chuckled Mr. Blossom, as he 
stepped in and took his place at the steering-wheel. 

“ By Jove ! I almost think you have ! ” said 
Mr. Graham, laughing. “ Stop a minute and let me 
have a look at it.” 

“ No time now,” answered Mr. Blossom. Pull 
in the rope, Rodney.” 

“ Now you’ve got the gasoline, you’re going to 
do as you please,” said Mr. Graham. ‘‘ Well, I 
hope you didn’t mind my keeping you so long.” 

‘‘ We enjoyed it very much,” said Mr. Blossom 
and Rodney together. Good-by, hope to see you 
again.” The engine started, and “ The Wild Goose ” 
pulled away from the wharf. 

What would he have thought if he’d looked in 
the bag ! ” muttered Rodney. 

‘‘ It was a great temptation to tell him,” said 
Mr. Blossom ; but mum’s the word on a trip like 
this.” 

It was a cool afternoon, with a brisk breeze 
blowing. With plenty of gasoline ‘‘ The Wild 


THE ADVENTURES OF A MOTOR-BOAT 289 


Goose ’’ sped along at a good pace. They ran fairly 
close to shore, but met with only a few fishing-boats. 
A little after sunset they stopped and ate supper from 
the box that Charles had generously filled. Then 
they went on again, taking their time, because, as 
Rodney suggested, it would be just as well if they 
didn’t land at Charleston until after dark. 

More wind blew up after nightfall, and fairly big 
waves beat against “ The Wild Goose.” Mr. Blossom 
reduced the speed, and Rodney kept a sharp look-out 
ahead for other boats and buoys. It was late when 
they reached the outer edge of the harbor, and here 
the skipper slowed his boat still more. Carefully 
“The. Wild Goose” crept in toward the lights of 
the city. 

It was nearly midnight when they came abreast 
of the docks. “ Let me see,” said Mr. Blossom. “ I 
wonder where we’d better land. Oh, I know.” He 
turned the bow toward the shore and ran carefully 
up to a dock. 

The dock was not well lighted, but so far as 
Rodney could see there was no one on it. “ The Wild 
Goose ” glided up to its side. Rodney fended it off 
with a boat-hook, and then caught the hook in an 
iron ring. He stepped out, the painter in his hand. 
He made the painter fast to the ring. 

Meantime Mr. Blossom had shut off the engine. 
“All right, Rodney? ” he asked. 

“All right,” Rodney answered. The boy stepped 
back into the boat, and pulled the bag from its hidings 


290 blace:beard’S island 

place in the bow. Mr. Blossom helped him put it on 
the dock. 

“ Well, here we are at last ! the man said, stand- 
ing up. ‘‘ That was a good idea of yours to wait 
until midnight. We ought to be able to carry it up 
to Stephen’s house without anyone seeing us.” Mr. 
Blossom made sure that the motor-boat was all right 
for the night, then he and Rodney picked up the bag 
and climbed the gangway that led to the street run- 
ning along the water-front. 

As they stepped into the street they were sur- 
prised to find themselves confronted by three men. 
One had an electric torch, which he flashed on the 
bag the two carried. 

Hold up there! ” said he. You must be the 
parties we’re looking for I ” 

“ They are,” said a voice Rodney knew well, the 
voice of Peter Doan. They’re the two we want, 
and they’ve got the stuff with them.” 

“ That’s right,” said the third man, who was no 
other than Parry. '' They’re the fellows that stole 
the goods from us.” 

The man with the lantern took a paper from his 
pocket and read a few lines from it. It was a 
warrant for the arrest of Henry Blossom and other 
parties, whose names were unknown, on a charge of 
larceny, brought by Peter Doan and Samuel Parry. 

“ Guess you’ll have to spend the night with me,” 
said the officer. It’s a poor time to be getting bail.” 


THE ADVENTURES OF A MOTOR-BOAT 291 


Mr. Blossom, boiling with indignation, started 
to express his opinion of the whole performance; 
but he had hardly more than begun when two other 
people came racing up to the group. These two 
were Tom and Stephen. It only took them a glance 
to understand the situation. 

“ But they didn’t steal anything from these two 
men,” said Tom, angrily. “ The two men stole some- 
thing from us in the first place. You haven’t any 
right to arrest Mr. Blossom and my brother ! ” 

‘‘ We haven’t, eh? ” retorted the officer. ‘‘ You 
can tell that to the judge in the morning. They’ve 
got to come along with me now, unless some one will 
go bail for them.” 

“ I know some one who will ; and that’s my uncle, 
Mr. Samuel Sims. I reckon you know who he is,” 
said Stephen. 

‘‘ Yes,” said the officer, I know Mr. Sims.” 

We haven’t got any time to bother with him 
now,” urged Doan. 

You’ve got to bother with him now,” retorted 
Stephen. “ You haven’t any right to lock up Mr. 
Blossom and Rodney without giving them a chance 
to get bail.” 

‘‘ It ain’t much out of our way to stop at Mr. 
Sims’ house a minute,” said the officer ; and he added 
in a low voice to Doan, He’s a man I don’t want 
to get in wrong with.” 

Both Doan and Parry remonstrated, but the 


292 


BLACKBEARD^S ISLAND 


officer was firm in his desire not to antagonize the 
well-known lawyer. So the procession started for 
the street, Mr. Blossom and Rodney carrying the 
bag, while the officer came close behind them, keeping 
watch with his lantern to guard against any trick. 

The streets were deserted now, and they met no 
one until they came to Mr. Sims’ house. Stephen 
rang the bell, and presently his uncle looked out from 
an upper window. 

''What do you want at this time of night?” 
Mr. Sims demanded. Stephen explained who it was, 
and a few minutes later the lawyer opened the door. 
"Come in,” said he; and the party marched in. 
There the officer, assisted by Doan and Parry, ex- 
plained his side of the case, and Mr. Blossom and 
the boys explained their side. 

"I hate to wake the judge at this time of the 
night,” said Mr. Sims, " but it seems the only thing 
to do.” He went to the telephone and called up the 
judge’s house. Presently he got the judge on the 
telephone and explained the situation to him; then 
the officer talked to the judge. 

It was finally arranged that Mr. Sims should be 
surety for the safe-keeping of the bag of guineas 
that night, and should produce it, together with Mr. 
Blossom and the three boys, at the judge’s room 
next morning. This didn’t suit Doan and Parry at 
all, but the officer refused to make any objections to 
the agreement arranged by the judge and Mr. Sims. 


THE ADVENTURES OF A MOTOR-BOAT 293 


I know this gentleman/^ he said, “ and I know 
that when he says he’ll do a thing, he’ll do it. I don't 
care if there was a million dollars in that bag; if he 
said he’d keep it safe over-night, I know he’d do it.” 

I’ll put it in my safe,” said Mr. Sims. They 
were all in his sitting-room, and they saw him open 
a safe and put the bag of gold in it. 

Good-night, gentlemen,” Mr. Sims then said. 

We’ll meet you at Judge Carter’s office at ten 
o’clock to-morrow morning. I’m much obliged to 
you, officer. It would have been a shame to have 
made this gentleman and Rodney spend the night in 
jail.” 

Doan and Parry, looking rather crestfallen, left 
the lawyer’s house, followed a minute later by the 
officer. The others stayed for a few minutes’ talk 
with the lawyer, then they too took their departure. 

Well, we’ve got half the treasure safe at our 
house, and the other half’s safe at Uncle Sam’s,” 
said Stephen, as the four walked to his home, and 
I don’t think Doan and Parry can get either half 
from us, now we’ve got Uncle Sam to help us 
hold it.” 

With his key he let them into the house, and 
then up-stairs. There was an extra bed in his room, 
which he offered to Mr. Blossom. Then each party 
told the other their adventures during the two days 
since they had last met ; but even the telling of these 
didn’t keep them long from getting to bed. 


XXI 

THE RIGHTFUL OWNER 

The three adventurers and their good friend 
Henry Blossom met Mr. and Mrs. Sims at the break- 
fast-table the next morning. Stephen’s father and 
mother were very glad to meet the man who had 
played such an important part in the success of the 
expedition. Over the table many questions were 
asked, and each of the party contributed his share 
to the history of the last ten days. 

“ Doan must have got back to the place where 
he hid the gold very soon after we left there,” said 
Tom, as they were talking over their adventures. 
“And then they didn’t waste any time getting up 
to Charleston. I suppose as soon as they reached 
here they got those warrants and a couple of men 
to serve them on us ; then Parry and one of the men 
went back to that tavern, expecting to catch Steve 
and me there when we drove in with Mr. Sloan, and 
at the same time Doan and the other constable kept 
watch along the river-front, ready to pounce on Mr. 
Blossom and Rodney. When Parry found out that 
Sloan had arrived at the tavern, and that the two of 
us had slipped away, he came over 'here and joined 
Doan and his officer. That’s the way I size it up.” 

“ And a sharp look-out they kept for ‘ The Wild 
294 


THE RIGHTFUL OWNER 


295 


Goose,’ ” chuckled Stephen. She couldn’t have 
landed without one of them seeing her first.” 

‘‘ What’s ‘ The Wild Goose? ’ ” asked Mrs. Sims. 

“ Mr. Blossom’s motor-boat,” said Rodney. 

Stephen’s mother laughed. I think you ought 
to re-christen her now,” said she. * The Wild 
Goose ’ doesn’t seem to suit a boat that’s helped in 
capturing all those gold-pieces.” 

After breakfast they were all in the sitting-room 
when the servant announced that there was a man on 
the porch who would like to have a few words with 
Mr. Blossom. The man hadn’t given any name, but 
said that he had come on important business. Mr. 
Blossom stepped out to the porch, the three boys with 
him, as if they were afraid that he might be kid- 
napped. To their surprise they found that the caller 
was Doan. He explained his errand without any 
unnecessary beating about the bush. 

“ See here,” said he, we’ve each of us had 
our hands on that money part of the time. Now 
my partner and I want to be fair with you, and I’ve 
come to suggest that we divvy up, half and half. 
We claim we found that chest on that island off of 
Beaufort, and you’ve got to admit that you tried to 
get it away from us. But we don’t want to go to 
law about it, unless it’s absolutely necessary ; so we’re 
willing to play fair with you, and each take half.” 

‘‘ I think we’d better postpone this talk until ten 
o’clock at Judge Carter’s office,” answered Mr. Bios- 


296 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


som. We have a lawyer, and when you’ve got a 
lawyer you ought to leave your affairs in his hands. 
But I don’t mind telling you that the chest and all 
its contents belong to us. It was found on my land, 
and by these three boys. You only came along and 
carried it away after they’d discovered it.” 

“ Pirate’s gold belongs to whoever gets his hands 
on it,” said Doan. 

“ In that case,” said Mr. Blossom, “ it certainly 
belongs to us, for we have our hands on it at present.” 

‘‘ You’d better treat us square, share and share 
alike, unless you want to go to law,” muttered Doan. 

'' There’s nothing doing here now,” Mr. Blossom 
concluded. We’ll meet you at ten o’clock and fix 
up our differences then.” 

“ It’s just a hold-up game,” said Stephen, as they 
went into the house. ‘‘ Those two scamps wanted to 
frighten us with their warrants, so we’d divide with 
them. I vote we don’t let them have a penny of it.” 

“ I shouldn’t wonder,” said Mr. Blossom, if 
they’d already taken more than several pennies from 
the chest when they first opened it. I shouldn’t 
wonder if they’d lined their pockets with guineas 
before we found the bag.” 

At ten o’clock the boys and Mr. Blossom went to 
Judge Carter’s private office, where Mr. Samuel Sims 
was already waiting. They had only been there a 
few minutes when Doan and Parry, accompanied by 
a lawyer of their own, appeared. 


THE RIGHTFUL OWNER 


297 


‘‘ I promised to have my clients here/’ said Mr. 
Sims to the judge, and here they are. These gentle- 
men,” he waved his hand at Doan and Parry as 
courteously as if they were among his most valued 
acquaintances, “ have obtained warrants for the ar- 
rest of my clients. As I understand it, they claim 
that my clients have stolen certain property belong- 
ing originally to them.” 

Judge Carter, his eye-glasses resting low on his 
nose, looked over the upper rims at Mr. Sims. 

What was the property in question ? ” he asked. 

“A sum of guineas, found in an old chest sup- 
posed to have been hidden by the famous pirate, 
Edward Teach, commonly known as Blackbeard,” 
answered Mr. Sims, in his most formal'legal manner. 

Judge Carter sat up straight, his eyes sparkling. 

“A sum of guineas! Hidden treasure! Pirate 
gold ! ” he exclaimed. 

Mr. Sims nodded. ‘‘ Pirate gold, in fact, your 
Honor.” 

Well,” said the judge, “ this grows interesting. 
I have heard stories of pirate gold for years, and I 
believe that men have searched for it for a couple 
of centuries. How does it happen that two parties 
have found it at the same time? ” 

“ I’m going to ask one of my clients, Mr. Thomas 
Mason, to tell his story from the beginning,” said 
Mr. Sims. Tom, you start with your buying the 
box at the shop down-town.” 


298 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Thereupon Tom related all their adventures that 
had to do with locating the island drawn on the map, 
with finding the situation of the treasure-chest, with 
digging it up, and with their hunting for it after it 
had been taken from their island. The judge listened 
with the deepest interest. When Tom finished the 
judge rubbed his hands saying, “ That’s the best yarn 
I’ve heard in all the time I’ve been on the bench ” 

Then the judge looked at Doan and Parry and 
their lawyer. Mr. Haines,” said he, addressing 
the lawyer, what have your clients to say in answer 
to this?” 

Doan stood up and told how he had been hunting 
for this particular chest for some time, and how he 
and his friend Parry had had good reason to believe 
the treasure was hidden on that particular island 
where the boys had camped. ‘‘ After the great storm 
we went out there,” said he, “ and we found the 
water had washed away the sand from over the chest, 
and we took it away with us, as we were rightfully 
entitled to. Same’s you’d pick up a floating lobster- 
pot, or anything that was wreckage of a vessel.” 

‘‘To whom does the island belong where the 
treasure was found? ” asked the judge. 

“ To me,” said Mr. Blossom, and he explained 
how he’d come to buy the islands near Beaufort. 

“And do you say positively that you dug the 
chest out of the bed of that stream? ” the judge next 
asked Tom. 


THE RIGHTFUL OWNER 


299 


‘‘Positively we did, sir,” Tom answered; and 
each of the other two boys nodded his head. 

“And you found it before the storm ? ” the judge 
went on. 

“ The very morning the storm broke,” said Mr. 
Blossom. “ I can vouch for that ; just as I was going 
over to take the boys in my motor-boat, I found they 
had the chest, and persuaded them to let it stay 
there, feeling sure it would be safe where it was.” 

Judge Carter looked at Doan and Parry. “ These 
four witnesses are very positive in their statements,” 
said he. “ They say they had to dig for a long time 
before they found the chest. And I understood you 
to say you found it on the surface after the storm, 
and didn’t have to do any digging for it.” 

“ Yes, that’s right,” said Doan. “ The waves had 
washed it clear.” 

Paryr added, “There it was standing by itself 
when we first laid eyes on it.” 

“ Humph ! ” said the judge. “ I know it was a 
big storm, but it seems to me we’d have to stretch 
the facts a little to believe it was a big enough storm 
to wash up a chest that you hadn’t been able to find 
when you’d hunted the island for it before. It seems 
to me there must have been some digging to uncover 
that chest ; and it’s admitted that these boys did dig 
there before the storm and that you didn’t.” The 
judge took off his glasses and tapped them thought- 
fully against his fingers. “ Of the two stories I’ve 


300 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


heard, I’m inclined to believe that these young men 
found the chest first, and that you two only found it 
afterwards. And in addition to that, the chest was 
found on land belonging to Mr. Blossom, and would 
therefore belong to him, unless it could be proved 
that some one else had chanced to leave it there. 
Now it seems that the pirate, Edward Teach, left it 
there, and in default of any heirs of his appearing to 
claim the treasure, I must decide that it belongs to 
the man who owned the island.” 

‘‘ We’re willing to go halves with them ! ” ex- 
claimed Doan. That’s a fair proposition. There’s 
plenty of the money to go ’round.” 

“ We can’t agree to that,” said Mr. Sims. “ We 
feel that these men simply took what belonged to us.” 

‘^And I also think,” put in Mr. Blossom, “ that 
they helped themselves to some of the guineas before 
they hid the bag where we finally found it.^| Didn’t 
you put some of the guineas into your pockets? ” he 
asked, looking directly at Parry. 

The dark man flushed and hesitated. ‘‘ Well, we 
did take a few,” he admitted. 

“ There, you see they’ve had all they’re entitled 
to, and more,” said Mr. Blossom; “ and they didn’t 
mean to mention that fact to us either.’' 

Besides,” said Rodney, “ they have the guineas 
we left on top of the bag we hid for them to find.” 

‘‘ Yes,” said Tom, “ they’ve really got quite a 
lot of the guineas in those two ways.” 


THE RIGHTFUL OWNER 


301 


Judge Carter smiled. Tm afraid we’ll have to 
discharge this warrant of arrest,” said he. Of 
course, if you gentlemen,” he added, looking at 
Parry and Doan, can bring further proof, I shall 
be glad to hear it. I should also be glad to have any 
references from friends of yours in Beaufort. Have 
you known these gentlemen long, Mr. Haines? ” he 
asked their lawyer. 

‘‘ They only engaged me this morning,” the latter 
admitted. 

“ And I might be able to submit references con- 
cerning them also,” said Mr. Blossom, from people 
in Beaufort.” 

‘‘ You understand,” went on Judge Carter, that 
you have the right to start suit for the recovery of 
the treasure, if you wish to do so. I should advise 
you, however, to be content with the guineas you put 
in your pocket.” 

Doan got to his feet, followed by his friend. 
“ Well, I feel that we have been buncoed! ” said he. 

But I don’t reckon that was the only treasure the 
pirates hid ’round Beaufort, and the next we find 
we’re going to keep our hands on ! ” With that the 
two left the room. 

‘‘ Better get your fee from them before they leave 
town, Haines,” said Mr. Sims, with a laugh. 

‘‘ You’re right there,” said the lawyer, and he 
hurried after his two clients. 

‘‘ I congratulate you, gentlemen,” said Judge 


302 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Carter, when the others had gone. “ I think I sized 
up our two friends pretty accurately. I doubt if they 
could get the best of references from their fellow- 
citizens. It’s a most remarkable yarn, finding 
guineas in a chest off the coast. I wish I’d been along 
with you on that hunt. Well, as we haven’t any proof 
that the gold belonged to the pirate, and as there 
aren’t any heirs here to claim it even in case it did, it 
is my opinion you’re free to do with it as you choose.” 

Later that morning the boys and Mr. Blossom 
went to Mr. Samuel Sims’ house. The bag was taken 
from the safe, and the guineas piled on a table. 

The question is now,” said Mr. Sims, what 
are you going to do with all this treasure ? ” 

That’s for them to say,” said Mr. Blossom, 
looking at the three boys. 

'' Why, it really belongs to you,” said Stephen. 
Oh, no, it doesn’t,” Mr. Blossom replied. ‘‘ I 
told you that whatever you found you were welcome 
to keep. I’d never have found the guineas, and I 
don’t believe they ever would have been found if 
you hadn’t come to look for them. They’re yours to 
do what you want with.” 

The boys looked at each other. It was Tom who 
finally made a suggestion. “ Mrs. Pinckney told us 
that Blackbeard stole a lot of money from her an- 
cestor once. It seems to me it would be mighty nice 
if we gave these guineas back to Mrs. Pinckney.” 

There was silence for a minute; then Stephen 


THE RIGHTFUL OWNER 


303 


said, “ It was really Mrs. Pinckney who first got us 
interested in Blackbeard; and the gold would help 
her a lot in repairing her house and garden. It 
seems to me we might each take one of the guineas 
as a souvenir, and give the rest to Mrs. Pinckney; 
as if the pirate were returning what he’d taken from 
her great-great-great-grand father. ” 

‘‘ Could she use these old coins ? ” Rodney asked, 
taking up one of the guineas, and looking doubtfully 
at the unfamiliar design on the coin. 

She certainly could,” Mr. Sims answered. 

The coins are made of gold, and any bank would 
be glad to get them at the regular rate of exchange.” 

Let’s give them to her then,” said Rodney. I 
vote for it. I think it would be fine for us to give 
her back what Blackbeard stole.” 

“Of course you don’t positively know that these 
guineas were ever in Blackbeard’s hands,” suggested 
Mr. Sims. “ They might have been hidden by some 
other pirate — Captain Kidd for instance.” 

“ No, it must have been Teach, Uncle Sam,” said 
Stephen. “ There’s the map with his name on it ; we’d 
never have found the guineas except for the map.” 

“ That’s right,” put in Henry Blossom. “ I 
think we’ll have to take it for granted that it was 
Captain Edward Teach who hid these particular gold 
pieces. It seems to me we couldn’t do anything better 
with them than to present them to Mrs. Pinckney.” 

“ I think that’s a fine thing to do,” assented 


304 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Mr. Sims. '' There isn’t a more charming woman 
in Charleston than Mrs. William Pinckney, and I 
know that this money will make a deal of difference 
to her. She’s had hard sailing to make both ends 
meet lately, and this ought to help a lot.” 

Then that’s settled,” said Tom. He picked up 
a paper and pencil and began jotting down some 
figures. “ Let’s see. We figured out there were 
two hundred and six guineas in the bag when we 
found it. There were two in the chest. Mr. Blos- 
som has one of these, and the other we gave to 
Eliza- Jane. Then we put a dozen guineas in the 
bag we hid in the sand.” He figured on the paper. 
“After we took those twelve guineas out we had 
one hundred and ninety- four. We must have that 
much in the two bags now. Mr. Blossom has a 
guinea for his watch-chain, and if we give Uncle 
Sam one, and each of us keep one, that’ll take four 
more, and leave one hundred and ninety. Figuring 
that each guinea is worth about five dollars, that 
means we’ll have nine hundred and fifty dollars for 
Mrs. Pinckney.” 

“ Doan and Parry must have got almost one hun- 
dred dollars,” said Rodney, “ when you figure what 
they probably put in their pockets, and what we left 
for them in the bag.” 

“ Well, they had to work for it,” said Stephen, 
“ and it’ll encourage them to hunt harder next time.” 

Mr. Blossom felt in his pocket and took out the 


THE RIGHTFUL OWNER 


305 


guinea he had been carrying. “ There it is. A fine 
coin,” said he, “ and I’ll certainly wear it on my 
watch-chain to remind me of Mr. Blackbeard.” 

You pick one out, Uncle Sam,” suggested Tom. 

Mr. Sims looked over the pile of coins and chose 
one, and then each of the boys picked out a coin for 
himself. ‘‘ And now,” said Stephen, “ I think we’d 
better take these guineas back to our house and lock 
them in father’s safe with the others ; then we can ar- 
range about taking them to Mrs. Pinckney’s house.” 

‘‘ How about going to see her to-morrow after- 
noon ? ” said Mr. Sims. ‘‘ I’d like to go with you.” 

“All right,” agreed Stephen. “ We’ll make it a 
party for to-morrow afternoon, and all meet at our 
house. Of course you’ll come with us,” he added, 
looking at Mr. Blossom. 

Mr. Blossom was stroking his beard and smiling. 
“ How’d you like for me to play the part of Captain 
Teach ? ” said he. “Of course, my beard isn’t black ; 
but Mrs. Pinckney doesn’t know me, and I could 
dress at your house to look like a pirate. I’ve always 
wanted to play a pirate’s role. A red handkerchief 
’round my head, some bright-colored jacket, belt 
stuck full of knives and pistols; I think I could give 
a good imitation of Mr. Blackbeard.” 

“Fine!” cried Stephen. “We’ve got a lot of 
old things in our garret that you could use. I think 
you’d make a splendid pirate, and it would look fine 
to see Blackbeard come walking into Mrs. Pinckney’s 
20 


306 


BLACKBEARD^S ISLAND 


house. You could ride in our carriage, and nobody 
would see you in your costume.’^ 

“ You’ll need some kind of a chest to carry the 
guineas in,” said Tom. The little one I bought that 
had the map in would be too small, but I think we 
could find one the right size at the old curiosity shop.” 

So the four arranged with Mr. Sims that he 
should meet them next day, and left. Rodney carried 
the bag of gold to Stephen’s, and Mrs. Sims put it in 
the safe with the rest of the guineas. Then the boys 
and Henry Blossom hunted the old curiosity shop. 

Again Stephen looked at postage stamps, and 
Rodney and Mr. Blossom inspected old fire-arms, 
while Tom busied himself with boxes and chests in a 
corner. At last he found what he wanted, a small 
leather chest with handles on each end and one on 
the top. He bargained with the store-keeper for it, 
while the others watched, pretending to think the 
chest of little value. Finally, he bought it for a 
dollar, and bore it away proudly, holding it by the 
leather handle on the cover. 

That afternoon they opened Tom’s new purchase, 
but found no map inside. Then they poured the 
two bags of guineas into it. It held them all with a 
little room to spare. As it stood strapped and tied 
with a cord the boys gazed proudly at it. Looks 
like a pirate’s chest all right,” said Rodney. ‘‘ It looks 
more like it than the little box Tom bought first.” 

“You ought to put the original map in the chest,” 


THE RIGHTFUL OWNER S07 

said Stephen. That would convince Mrs. Pinckney 
we found the money where we said we did.” 

No,” said Tom, Pm going to keep that map, 
and have it framed. I wouldn’t give it up for a 
million guineas ! ” 

They heard a voice down on the porch singing : 

“ Oh, my name was Captain Kidd, 

As I sailed, as I sailed ; 

And most shockingly I did, 

As I sailed.” 

That’s Mr. Blossom ! ” exclaimed Rodney. 

He’s come back from doing his errands.” They 
ran down-stairs to join him, and there on the porch 
the four broke into a war-dance, chanting the 
familiar lines of the pirate’s song, as they circled 
’round and ’round. 

I’m afraid we’d shock the neighbors if they 
saw us,” laughed Mr. Blossom. 

What do we care ? ” said Stephen. “ Pirates 
never did care what people thought of them.” 

I want to go down to look at ^ The Wild 
Goose,’ ” said Mr. Blossom presently. Who’d like 
to go along ? ” They all wanted to, and soon they 
were on the water-front. They found the motor-boat 
where she’d been left the night before, and her owner 
engaged a man to look after her for a few days. 

There was a celebration at Stephen’s house that 
night. Mr. Sims had received a letter from Colonel 
Whitney, saying that he and his wife were coming to 
Charleston next morning to make a short visit. 


308 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


Why not invite them to meet us at Mrs. Pinck- 
ney’s?’’ suggested Tom. They all agreed that it 
was a good idea. 

Then they planned what Mr. Blossom should do 
when he played the part of Blackboard, and had a 
short rehearsal of the scene. 

I don’t know what Elizabeth Pinckney will 
think of this,” said Mrs. Sims, laughing as she 
listened to the make-believe pirate’s words. You 
mustn’t be too blood-thirsty.” 

I’ll be the pleasantest little pirate that ever 
came to town,” said Mr. Blossom. ‘‘ Captain Kidd 
and Captain Edward Teach may have been terrible 
fellows, but I promise you this Captain Blackboard 
will make amends for them.” 

Somehow I don’t feel that Blackboard could 
have been such an awful bad lot,” said Tom. I 
feel as if he’d been an old friend of ours.” 

So do I,” said Stephen. 

‘‘ I like him, too,” said Rodney. “ Good old sea- 
rover he was ! ” 

Well, he certainly gave you boys a good time,” 
said Stephen’s father, '' though I don’t suppose he 
thought of any such thing when he hid the guineas.” 

‘‘ Certainly not,” said Tom. But that’s the 
way with hidden treasure. One adventurer hides it, 
and then other adventurers come dong and have the 
fun of discovering it again.” 


XXII 


BLACKBEARD’S GIFT 

Mrs. Pinckney, sewing in the sitting-room of 
her small house, was pleased to have Mrs. George 
Sims come for an afternoon call. Mrs. Sims brought 
two friends with her. Colonel and Mrs. Whitney 
from Beaufort. Mrs. Pinckney had met the Whit- 
neys before and knew all about them, just as they, 
on their part, knew all about Mrs. Pinckney, as well- 
brought-up people in South Carolina always know 
about each other. The hostess offered her guests 
afternoon tea, and they were having it when the bell 
rang a second time, and Mr. George Sims with his 
brother Samuel Sims, the lawyer arrived. 

‘‘ Well, this is quite a party,” said Mrs. Sims. 

Pm afraid so many of us will quite crowd you out 
of your house,” she added, looking at the white- 
haired, gentle- faced lady. 

Oh, no, my dear, I couldn’t have too many 
friends come to see me. I always feel as if it were 
an imposition to expect them to come out so far to 
the outskirts of town to see me, unless they’re like 
your Stephen and his two cousins, who are fond of 
tramping in the country. They told you they stopped 
here one afternoon, didn’t they? And then they 

309 


310 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


called again the next day. They wanted to learn 
something about the pirate Blackbeard ; but I couldn’t 
tell them much.” Mrs. Pinckney smiled as she rose 
and went to her writing-desk. “ I found an old 
picture, labelled ' Captain Edward Teach, the re- 
nowned Pirate Blackbeard,’ and I thought I’d like to 
show it to Stephen and his cousins the next time they 
called.” She picked up the engraving from among 
some papers on her desk and handed it to Mrs. Sims. 
The picture showed a very fierce-looking man, with 
two long braided strands of black beard. Mrs. Sims 
smiled at the picture, and then handed it to the others. 

I don’t wonder your ancestor gave anything he 
had to such a ferocious chap as that,” observed Mr. 
Samuel Sims. ‘‘ I’m sure I should have. I believe 
that story about the pirate is one of the traditions of 
your family, isn’t it, Mrs. Pinckney? ” 

“ Oh, it’s more than a tradition,” said the little 
woman. “ There doesn’t seem to be any doubt that 
it was an actual fact. My great-great-great-grand- 
father, Samuel Pinckney, had business interests in 
England, and he sailed from Charleston on a ship 
called 'The Golden Horn,’ in 1718. There were 
other passengers, of course, but Samuel Pinckney 
seems to have had the largest sum of money of any 
of those on board. Five hundred guineas they say 
he had in his strong box. I believe he had a pistol 
and a couple of black boys to carry the box for him, 
but in spite of all that the pirate chased ‘ The Golden 


BLACKBEARD’S GIFT 


311 


Horn ’ and got it, and took the box away from my 
ancestor. It makes an amusing family story, doesn’t 
it? You see, whenever any of us Pinckneys have 
needed money, we’ve always said: ‘Oh, if we only 
had the gold pieces the pirate took from our an- 
cestor ! ’ It seems an easy way of putting the respon- 
sibility on another’s shoulders. Now when I see how 
my house needs this done here, and that done there, I 
lay all the blame on Captain Teach.” 

“ Your house doesn’t look as if it needed anything 
done to it,” protested Colonel Whitney, gallantly. 

Mrs. Pinckney smiled. “ Oh, yes, it does, 
Colonel,” said she. “ It needs a great deal done to 
it. I’ll not give up the satisfaction of blaming that 
old buccaneer, just because my guests don’t know as 
much about the inside of my house as I do; and 
plumbers’ and carpenters’ bills are so terribly high 
nowadays.” 

Mr. George Sims glanced at the great-grand- 
father’s clock that stood in the corner of the room, 
and then turned to Mrs. Pinckney. “ I wish you’d 
show Colonel Whitney the painting of your great- 
grandmother,” said he. “ The Colonel’s a fine judge 
of paintings, and I’ve tola him you had such a charm- 
ing one of her.” 

“ Why, certainly,” assented the hostess. “ Here 
it is,” and she stepped to the rear of the room where 
the oil painting hung above the mantlepiece. “ I think 
we value it more as a family treasure than as a 


312 


BLACKBEAKD’S ISLAND 


work of art/’ she explained, as she looked up at the 
charming pink-faced lady, not altogether unlike her- 
self, except that the painted lady wore a yellow satin 
gown and held a large pink rose in one delicate hand. 

‘‘ Very interesting,” said Colonel Whitney, put- 
ting on his glasses and looking closely at the por- 
trait. sureness of touch, and yet a boldness in 
the drawing. It reminds me of ” — A loud knock 
came at the front door — such a very loud knock that 
every one in the room turned abruptly about. Mr. 
Samuel Sims was nearest to the door, and he stepped 
into the hall and opened the front door, which was so 
placed that all those in the sitting-room could see it. 

Imagine the amazement of Mrs. Pinckney and 
Colonel Whitney, who were standing at the farther 
end of the sitting-room, and of Mrs. Whitney and 
Mrs. Sims, who were still at the tea-table, when a 
large bearded man, without so much as a by your 
leave,” marched into the sitting-room. Around his 
forehead was a large red handkerchief, and. his shirt 
was opened at the throat. His jacket was of a dull 
bronzed green, looking as if it had weathered many 
a storm; his knee breeches were of the same color; 
and he wore stockings and low shoes with tarnished 
silver buckles. Strangest of all, there were stuck 
into his red sash two heavy-handled pistols and a 
couple of sheathed knives. 

The people in the room stared at this strange 
figure in amazement; then they saw come in back of 



“put it there!” exclaimed the big man 




BLACKBEARD’S GIFT 


313 


him Stephen Sims and Tom Mason, each holding one 
handle of a small chest, while Rodney was back of it, 
ready to keep the chest from tipping. 

Put it there ! exclaimed the big man, pointing 
in front of Mrs. Pinckney, who had now sat down in 
a big chair. The boys set down the chest where he 
directed, and then stood to one side. 

The man bowed to the ladies. On the fingers of 
his right hand were a number of curious rings. 

‘‘ Have I the honor of addressing Mrs. William 
Pinckney ? he inquired in a very deep voice that 
seemed to suit his strange appearance. 

The little lady rose and came forward, saying, 
“ Yes, I am Mrs. William Pinckney.” 

“ Good,” said- the stranger, and he made another 
bow to her. “ I have sailed in the service of Captain 
Edward Teach, whom some folks have called Black- 
beard, and Pm doing his bidding in coming here. 
One of your forefathers, Mr. Samuel Pinckney, fell 
in with Captain Teach on the high-seas one day, and 
the Captain, being in pressing need of funds at the 
time, was obliged to borrow a certain sum from the 
excellent Samuel Pinckney. Five hundred guineas 
was the sum, I understand.” 

Colonel Whitney drew up the chair for Mrs. 
Pinckney, and she sat down again, more and more 
surprised at the strange words of her visitor. 

The big man drew a piece of paper that looked 
like an old parchment from the pocket of his coat.. 


314 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


He unfolded it and read : ‘‘ I desire that you take a 
chest I have hidden on my island and deliver it to 
the heirs of the excellent Samuel Pinckney. Part 
of the money I had from him has been spent, but 
such as is in the chest I bid you deliver to them. 
Edward Teach.” 

The stranger pointed his finger at the parchment. 

Those are my orders,” said he. Then he pointed at 
the chest on the floor in front of him. '‘And there 
is the chest in question, Mrs. Pinckney.” 

The people in the room moved in their chairs. 
Mrs. Sims murmured, " Well, I declare ! ” Colonel 
Whitney leaned forward to have a better look at the 
box. 

" Do you mean you’re bringing that to me, sir ? ” 
Mrs. Pinckney asked. 

" Captain Teach is sending it to you, madame,” 
said the stranger, “providing you are the heir of 
Samuel Pinckney.” 

“ Indeed she is,” said Mr. Samuel Sims. “ I can 
vouch for that.” 

“ It is yours,” continued the stranger. “ Yes, to 
do as you like with. I suggest that you open it.” 

Mrs. Pinckney leaned over to the chest. She 
touched the lock in front, and found that the box 
was unfastened, then she took the handle of the 
cover and lifted it. Within the chest was a pile of 
gold pieces. For a few minutes she stared at the 
glitter of so much gold, then she picked up one of 
the coins and read the inscription on it. 


BLACKBEARD’S GIFT 


315 


The head of King George!” she murmured. 

Well, I must say this is the most extraordinary 
thing that ever happened ! ” 

“It is!” declared Colonel Whitney^ positively; 
and he picked up one of the coins and examined it. 
Then Mrs. Pinckney sat down in a chair close to the 
chest and smiled at the big, bearded stranger. 

“ Is this some delightful joke you are playing, 
sir ? ” she asked. 

“ No joke, madame,” he answered. “ Here are 
some two hundred guineas, part of those Captain 
Teach took from Samuel Pinckney. They have 
been found, and are now returned to you. They are 
all yours. You can see they are real guineas. I 
assure you, on my word of honor, that they belong 
to you.” His eyes and voice carried conviction. 

Mrs. Pinckney looked at Mrs. Sims. “ What 
do you think of that ? ” she said. “ What ought I to 
do about it ? ” 

“ Take them,” answered Mrs. Sims. “ IPs only 
a just return for what your family ought to have 
had these many years.” 

The’ little white-haired lady smiled graciously at 
the bearded man. “ I don’t know your name, sir,” 
she said, “ but I thank you with all my heart for 
your generous gift. I don’t know where you came 
from, or where you found these coins, but I thank 
you for bringing them to me, if, as you say, they did 
once belong to my great-great-great-grandfather.” 


316 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


It seems they did/’ answered the man. 

Mrs. Pinckney turned to Mr. Samuel Sims. 

Will you be my lawyer, Mr. Sims/’ said she, and 
tell me what I ought to do about this? ” 

The guineas are yours,” he answered. I’m 
as certain of it as this pirate man is.” 

‘‘And I saw the guineas found on Captain Teach’s 
island,” said the stranger. “ There’s no missing link 
in the chain. They are yours; every one of them.” 

“ Goodness gracious me ! ” said Mrs. Pinckney, 
and she sat back in her chair, and waved one hand 
before her face as if it were a fan. “ I feel like 
Cinderella when she suddenly woke up to find she 
had more riches than she knew what to do with! 
Whatever shall I do with so much money ? ” Then 
everyone laughed, and began to suggest things that 
she might do with the money. In the midst of their 
suggestions, Mrs. Pinckney clapped her hands. 

“ Why, I declare. I’ve forgotten my manners, 
and haven’t offered this very kind gentleman any 
tea. I don’t know whether pirates care for tea, but 
there’s a bottle of Jamaica rum in the pantry, and 
perhaps he’ll mix a little of that with the tea.” She 
picked up a small bell from the table and rang it. 
When her maid came in she said, “ Maria get some 
fresh tea, and more cups and that bottle of Jamaica 
rum, and that plum-cake from the pantry cupboard.” 

The maid hurried away. 

“And now, kind gentleman,” Mrs. Pinckney 


BLACKBEAED’S GIFT 


317 


went on, “ May I ask your name ? I take it for 
granted that you are what you say you are, but you 
must have a name, too.” 

‘‘ Henry Blossom, at your service, madame.” 
The gentlemanly pirate gave a bow. ‘‘And, as a 
matter of fact, I’m acquainted with these ladies and 
gentlemen, so we don’t need any introduction.” 

“Where did he come from, Stephen?” asked 
Mrs. Pinckney. “ I know that pirates are a shy 
people, and won’t say much about themselves, but 
perhaps you could tell me something about him.” 

“We found him in the Sea Islands,” Stephen 
answered. “ On the very next island in fact to the 
one where we found the guineas.” 

“ Then I think you should all share in the treas- 
ure,” said Mrs. Pinckney. 

“ No, it really belonged to your great-great-great- 
grandfather, and so now it belongs to you,” said 
Stephen. “ We worked it out carefully, and we’ve 
each taken a coin as a souvenir. You see it all began 
by your telling us about Blackbeard that afternoon 
we stopped here, and then Tom finding the map in 
the box he bought. Then we went to the Sea Islands, 
and there we found the treasure at the place marked 
with the red cross on the map ; so what we really did 
was to follow Blackbeard’s instructions and bring 
you back what he took from Mr. Samuel Pinckney.” 

“ Then you three boys and Mr. Blossom have 
been sort of fairy god-mothers to me,” Mrs. Pinck- 


318 


BLACKBEAKD’S ISLAND 


ney suggested, smiling. Somehow the idea of the 
boys and the piratical-looking man being fairy god- 
mothers struck everyone as funny. 

Its the first time I was ever called a fairy god- 
mother,” said Mr. Blossom. However, if you 
think I really am one. I’ll give over being a pirate 
for the time, and put on the manners of a fairy 
god-mother, and sit down in a chair and drink tea.” 
He pulled the pistols and knives from his belt, and 
laid them on a side-table ; then he sat down, and his 
three able assistants also found themselves chairs. 

Tea was brought in and the plum-cake, and the 
three boys told their adventures at length. 

"‘And some time,” said Colonel Whitney, when 
the three had finished their exciting story, ‘‘ you must 
all come down to Beaufort, and we’ll go out to the 
Sea Islands, and see just exactly where it was that 
Tom located the chest.” 

“And you must all see our ship, ‘ The Jolly 
Roger,’ where she’s stuck in the sand,” put in 
Rodney. “ She’s as fine a ship as ever sailed the 
seas.” 

“And then you must all come to my island,” said 
Henry Blossom, “ and I’ll take you all for a cruise 
in ‘ The Wild Goose.’ ” 

“And we’ll stop at Calkins’ Cove, and see the 
original chest, and tell Eliza-Jane and Peter what 
happened after we left them.” This was Stephen’s 
suggestion. 


BLACKBEARD’S GIFT 


319 


“And you all ought to see the Jordan farm, and 
eat some of Mrs. Jordan's buckwheat cakes," said 
Tom. 

“ That's a pretty big program," laughed Mrs. 
Sims., 

“And then you must all come here, and see what 
I've done to my house ; how I've mended my porch, 
repaired my fences, and fixed my garden," said Mrs. 
Pinckney. She glanced at the chest on the floor. 
“ There must be a great many guineas there," said 
she. “ I'll have to take them to bank one by one, or 
they'll suspect me of having done something wrong 
to get so many of them." 

“All you'll have to do," suggested Colonel 
Whitney, “ is to tell the bank-clerk that you've found 
€ome money belonging to your great-great-great- 
grandfather. I wouldn't mention Blackbeard or 
you'll have the people in Charleston giving up their 
jobs and hunting buried treasure along the coast." 

“ It's strange how people love to hunt for such 
things," said Mr. Samuel Sims. 

“ Oh, I don't think so," said Stephen. “ You 
know you'd like to have been along. Uncle Sam." 

The lawyer nodded. “ Yes, I reckon I would, 
Steve. We're all born adventurers when it comes to 
that." He glanced at Mr. Blossom, who was just 
finishing a large slice of plum-cake. 

“ Oh, you needn't look suspiciously at me," said 
the big man. “ I'll admit that I've had the time of 


320 


BLACKBEARD’S ISLAND 


my life.” He folded his arms and tried to look 
very fierce. “ Next to being a pirate, the best fun 
is hunting pirate gold.” 

‘‘ It sure is! ” said Tom. 

Look out I ” cried Rodney. Steve’s going to 
sing.” 

“ Well, why shouldn’t I ? ” demanded his cousin. 
‘‘ Come ahead, Mr. Blossom.” 

The make-believe pirate and the three boys stood 
up, and standing back of the box of guineas sang 
Captain Kidd’s song, and they sang loud enough to 
frighten any passers-by on the street. 

‘‘And now,” said Mrs. Sims, when the echo of 
the rollicking song had died away, “ I think we’d 
better all go back to our house for supper, in case you 
adventurers can think of anything so common-place.” 

“ But first let me thank all four of you again,” 
said Mrs. Pinckney. “ I think I ought to share the 
guineas with you all.” 

“ No, no,” said Tom. “ You see we got more 
out of the adventure than anyone else. We had a 
wonderful time ! ” 

Stephen and Rodney both nodded. “ We surely 
did I ” they exclaimed as one. 

Mr. Blossom stood up and bowed to the lady. 
“ In the words of my fellow conspirators, ‘ we surely 
did,’ ” said he, “ and I want to thank you and your 
ancestor, Mr. Samuel Pinckney, for having lost 
the treasure so that we could find it.” 






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